Celebrating 30 Years of MIFARE: A Journey of Innovation

For 30 years, MIFARE has revolutionized the way hundreds of millions of people around the globe interact with public transport, access buildings and events, and pay for goods and services. Since its inception by NXP in 1994, MIFARE technology has transformed from a simple electronic purse into a comprehensive suite of solutions, boasting more than 40 applications and use cases.

When the first MIFARE chip was introduced, few could have predicted its monumental impact on daily life. "It has opened doors—in more ways than we could have imagined" says André Perchthaler, Sen. Director, Head of Payment, SecID & MIFARE. Indeed, MIFARE's journey began with transport ticketing and has since expanded into over 40 applications through various form factors such as mobiles, wearables, key fobs, and more.

The initial MIFARE products were designed with simplicity in mind, tailored for basic electronic purse applications. However, as the world evolved, so did MIFARE. Today's MIFARE portfolio includes MIFARE DESFire®, MIFARE Plus®, MIFARE Classic®, MIFARE 2GO, MIFARE Ultralight®, MIFARE DUOX® and MIFARE SAM, all designed to meet the changing demands of a modern, interconnected world (Visit mifare.net).

As digitalization continues to shape our world, MIFARE has embraced this shift with the launch of MIFARE 2GO in 2018. This cloud service supports system integrators and service operators by ensuring that MIFARE credentials can be seamlessly integrated into digital wallets and securely managed remotely.

Security has been at the heart of MIFARE's product development since its early days. The portfolio offers a range of security features to meet market demands, from AES authentication and CC EAL 3+ certification in the MIFARE Ultralight product family to the advanced capabilities of the MIFARE DESFire EV3 platform, which includes CC EAL 5+ certification, multi-application capabilities, memory up to 16kb and various enhanced features.

"Security and application focus has always been at the core of our product development," affirms Perchthaler.

NXP's active licensing and certification strategy, along with independent certification from institutes like Arsenal Testhouse and UL, guarantees that genuine MIFARE products meet the highest standards of quality and security. This makes them an essential choice for any organization looking to build secure, reliable and future-ready contactless solutions.

As MIFARE looks to the future, new market opportunities are emerging in the realms of smartcards, EV charging and car access. Many brands are already leveraging the MIFARE ecosystem to enable multiple use cases on a single Smart City Card including parking, EV charging, car access, public transportation, bike sharing and many more.

With 30 years of groundbreaking innovation behind it, MIFARE stands poised to continue shaping the future of contactless convenience. As technology evolves and new applications emerge, the legacy of MIFARE's transformative impact on everyday life only grows stronger. Here's to the next decades of innovation and success.