virtual cards

Numberless spending method

Virtual cards are digital payment cards that exist only as card numbers, expiration dates, and security codes—no physical plastic.

Banks and payment services issue them for online purchases, often with spending limits or single-use functionality for security: I generated a virtual card for the subscription so I could cancel it easily.

They're useful for controlling recurring charges or protecting your main account from fraud.

Opposites
physical materiality

virtual cardscash

Ready spending funds

paper money · contactless cards · coins · checks · money orders

Family

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Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G