🧷 Human Microchipping: A Factual Report on Voluntary Implants
A closer look at the origins, use cases, legal status, adoption rates, and concerns around RFID and NFC chips voluntarily implanted in humans.
Human microchipping—implanting small RFID or NFC devices under the skin—remains a niche but ongoing practice among select groups of tech enthusiasts, companies, and innovation hubs. Although often surrounded by misinformation, the current reality involves voluntary participation, limited functionality, and growing discussions about privacy, health, ethics, and legality. This report outlines what is actually happening, based on verified facts.
🧬 Origins and Invention
The first documented human RFID chip implant occurred in 1998, performed by British scientist Kevin Warwick as a research experiment in cybernetics. He used it to control lights, doors, and devices in his lab.
The technology is rooted in Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Near Field Communication (NFC)—widely used in key cards, contactless payments, and pet microchipping.
🏢 Early Adopters
🇸🇪 Biohax International (Sweden)
Founded by Jowan Österlund, a body piercer turned biohacker.
Offers NFC chips for use as digital keys, business cards, and access tools.
Partnered with SJ Railways to let riders use hand implants as train tickets.
🇺🇸 Three Square Market (Wisconsin)
In 2017, became the first U.S. company to offer voluntary RFID implants to employees.
Over 50 employees received implants allowing them to:
Open doors
Use vending machines
Log into workstations
🇸🇪 Epicenter (Stockholm)
A tech hub offering implants to staff and guests for access control and contactless interactions within its offices.
⚙️ How It Works
Chips are roughly the size of a grain of rice and are typically inserted into the fleshy area between the thumb and index finger, usually in the non-dominant hand.
The procedure is done using a sterile syringe in under a minute.
Chips are passive—they have no battery or GPS—and rely on an external scanner for activation.
🧠 What Can They Do?
These chips offer a variety of short-range capabilities:
Unlock secured doors
Serve as ID or digital business cards
Make contactless payments
Log into computers or secure networks
Store basic health or emergency contact data
In some cases, users have used implants to pay for snacks, ride trains, or start vehicles equipped with compatible systems.
🧪 Are They Still Experimental?
Yes. While not new, RFID/NFC human implants remain experimental and voluntary, mostly used by:
Biohackers
Early-adopting employees in certain tech firms
Tech-forward citizens in countries like Sweden and Germany
No government agency or major healthcare system has mandated or mass-deployed them for the general population.
📈 Adoption & Popularity
As of 2025, an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 people worldwide have received voluntary implants.
Sweden accounts for a large portion, with over 3,000 known Biohax users.
In the U.S., adoption has remained limited to corporate pilots and tech hobbyists.
Popularity has not significantly expanded beyond this niche group.
⏳ Lifespan
Most RFID/NFC chips last 10 to 50 years, depending on storage and usage.
Passive chips are extremely durable and do not require charging or replacement unless damaged.
The outer biopolymer or glass casing is designed to remain stable inside human tissue long-term.
⚖️ Legal & Geographic Issues
Voluntary use is permitted in the U.S., but several states (e.g., California, Missouri, Wisconsin) ban forced microchipping by employers or government entities.
Chips implanted in one state (e.g., Florida) can be used in another (e.g., California), as their function depends on scanner compatibility, not legal jurisdiction.
There are no nationwide requirements, bans, or mandates in the U.S. or Europe.
🛡️ Privacy & Religious Objections
Some opponents cite religious concerns, associating the chips with the “Mark of the Beast” in Christian prophecy. This has been raised in court cases and workplace disputes.
There is no legal precedent banning voluntary chip usage for religious reasons, but employers generally avoid mandating use due to these sensitivities.
The chips do not contain GPS and cannot track location in real time. They store a static unique ID that can only be scanned at close range.
🧑⚕️ Health and Safety
Known risks:
Minor swelling or infection at the injection site
Rare chip migration within the hand
Vulnerability to cloning or hacking by nearby readers if not encrypted
Some medical imaging (e.g., MRI) may require chip disclosure, though modern chips are generally MRI-safe
Regulatory note:
The FDA approved the VeriChip (an RFID health ID chip) in 2004 but it was later discontinued due to low adoption and public backlash.
