Cryptnox SA

Cryptnox NFC Reader — USB-C Contactless Smart Card Reader for FIDO2 & MIFARE

The Cryptnox NFC reader is a USB-C contactless smart card reader for FIDO2 cards, MIFARE access badges, NFC payment cards, and any ISO 14443 contactless smart card. USB CCID class-compliant — plug-and-play on Windows, macOS, and Linux with no Cryptnox-specific drivers required. Includes USB-C to USB-A adapter.

CHF 45.75

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

Description

The Cryptnox NFC reader is a USB-C contactless smart card reader built for FIDO2 cards, MIFARE access badges, NFC payment cards, and any ISO 14443 contactless smart card. USB CCID class-compliant, so every modern operating system recognizes it via the built-in smart card stack — no Cryptnox-specific drivers required. Ships with a USB-C to USB-A adapter for compatibility with older computers and docking stations.

Is this a Square card reader or a payment terminal?

No — this NFC reader is a general-purpose smart card reader, not a payment terminal. Payment terminals (Square, Clover, SumUp) are closed devices that only process payment transactions and require merchant certification to operate. The Cryptnox NFC reader exposes raw card communication to your software (Windows CryptoAPI, macOS CryptoTokenKit, Linux pcsc-lite / OpenSC) for authentication, identity, access control, and development workflows — not for accepting payments.

Common use cases

  • FIDO2 security keys — use Cryptnox FIDO2 cards or any NFC-capable FIDO2 device on a desktop without built-in NFC
  • MIFARE access control — read/write MIFARE Classic, MIFARE DESFire EV1/EV2/EV3, NTAG cards for badge programming and access management
  • Smart card development — read any ISO 14443-A or 14443-B card with standard PC/SC software, including JavaCard development workflows
  • Identity workflows — read PIV / CAC / CIV / European eID cards with contactless interfaces (most cards issued since 2015)
  • Cryptnox hardware wallet — use the Cryptnox crypto hardware wallet directly from a desktop without a phone

Plug-and-play on Windows, macOS, and Linux

The reader is USB CCID class-compliant — every modern operating system uses its built-in smart card stack. Windows 10/11 and macOS 11+ are plug-and-play. Linux needs the OS’s standard smart card packages installed once: pcscd + libccid + pcsc-tools. No vendor-specific software, no proprietary lock-in.

How this NFC reader compares to our other readers

  • This reader (NFC contactless): tap or hold the card against the reader pad. Best for NFC FIDO2, MIFARE access cards, NFC-only workflows.
  • Cryptnox dual-slot Smartcard Reader: contact reader with a full-size CR80 slot + a SIM-size slot, plus a tap button (Windows only) for FIDO2 contact-mode workflows.
  • Cryptnox CAC Reader: compact USB-A contact reader optimized for U.S. DoD CAC, PIV, and contact FIDO2 cards.

For tutorials covering FIDO2 desktop sign-in, MIFARE encoding, eID workflows, and click-to-tap with the dual-slot reader, browse our card reader tutorials hub.

Features

Compatible cards (any ISO 14443-A/B contactless smart card)

  • FIDO2 / WebAuthn devices: Cryptnox FIDO2 cards, YubiKey 5 NFC, Identiv uTrust FIDO2, any NFC FIDO2 authenticator
  • MIFARE family: MIFARE Classic, MIFARE DESFire EV1/EV2/EV3, NXP NTAG, MIFARE Plus
  • Cryptnox products: FIDO2 cards, FIDO2 + MIFARE cards, hardware wallet cards
  • Government identity: PIV / CAC / CIV cards (contactless interface), European eID
  • Banking: EMV contactless payment cards (UID and read-only data only — not for payment processing)

Compatible software

  • Windows native smart card stack (CryptoAPI, WebAuthn, browser FIDO2)
  • macOS CryptoTokenKit + CCID class driver
  • Linux pcsc-lite + libccid + OpenSC
  • Identiv uTrust SDK and HID OMNIKEY-based applications work unchanged (PC/SC standards-based)
  • FIDO2 / WebAuthn in any modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)
  • Open-source: pcsc-tools, OpenSC, GnuPG-PIV, yubico-piv-tool

USB-C native — older computers supported via included adapter

The reader connects via USB-C to modern laptops, USB-C iPad, and USB-C docking stations. A USB-C to USB-A adapter is included in the box for compatibility with older USB-A-only computers.

FIDO2 over NFC on a desktop

If your desktop or laptop doesn’t have built-in NFC, the Cryptnox NFC reader is the standard way to use NFC FIDO2 cards from a browser. When a service prompts you to “tap your security key,” place the card on the reader pad — the FIDO2 sign-in completes in seconds.

NFC vs contact — which reader do you need?

If most of your cards have an NFC interface (Cryptnox FIDO2, MIFARE access badges, contactless eID), this NFC reader is the right choice. If you primarily use contact smart cards (DoD CAC, federal PIV, banking smart cards with contact-only chips), see the Cryptnox dual-slot contact Smartcard Reader or the compact USB-A CAC reader instead.

Specifications

Technical specifications

  • Interface: USB-C (USB-A adapter included)
  • Card interface: contactless / NFC (ISO/IEC 14443 Type A and Type B)
  • Standards compliance: ISO 14443, MIFARE compliant, USB CCID, PC/SC 2.0
  • Read/write: bidirectional read/write supported (where the card itself permits)
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/11, macOS 11+, Linux (kernel 4.x+), ChromeOS (via Smart Card Connector)
  • Drivers: OS-native USB CCID class driver — no Cryptnox-specific driver required
  • Power: USB bus-powered, low draw — works without a powered hub

Compliance

  • ISO 14443 Type A and Type B
  • MIFARE compatibility (NXP standard)
  • USB CCID class
  • PC/SC 2.0
  • CE and RoHS marked
  • FCC marked (US market)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the same as a Square card reader or a payment terminal?

No. Payment terminals (Square, Clover, SumUp) are closed devices that only process payment transactions and require merchant certification to operate. This is a general-purpose NFC / contactless smart card reader that plugs into a computer via USB-A or USB-C. It exposes raw card communication to your software (Windows CryptoAPI, macOS CryptoTokenKit, Linux pcsc-lite / OpenSC) for authentication, identity, access control, and development — not for accepting payments.

Does it work on Linux and macOS without drivers?

Yes — the reader is CCID class-compliant (USB smart card standard), so it uses the operating system’s built-in smart card stack rather than any Cryptnox-specific driver. macOS 11+ and Windows 10/11 ship with the stack enabled, so the reader is plug-and-play out of the box. Linux requires the generic PC/SC daemon and CCID driver from your distribution’s repositories:

  • Debian / Ubuntu: sudo apt install pcscd libccid pcsc-tools
  • Fedora / RHEL: sudo dnf install pcsc-lite pcsc-lite-ccid pcsc-tools
  • Arch: sudo pacman -S pcsclite ccid pcsc-tools

Once installed, pcsc_scan should detect the reader immediately. No vendor/proprietary driver is ever required.

Which smart cards does it read — is it compatible with Identiv / OMNIKEY applications?

Any ISO 14443-A/B contactless card: MIFARE Classic, MIFARE DESFire (EV1/EV2/EV3), NXP NTAG, Cryptnox FIDO2 cards, Cryptnox hardware wallet cards, YubiKey over NFC, Identiv uTrust cards, PIV / CAC / CIV cards with contactless interface, passkey-enabled security devices, and EMV contactless payment cards for UID/read-only use. Software written for Identiv or HID OMNIKEY readers using standard PC/SC will work with this reader unchanged.

Can it read FIDO2 + passkey hardware devices?

Yes. The reader is a common way to use Cryptnox FIDO2 cards on desktops and laptops that don’t have built-in NFC. Place the card on the reader when your service asks you to tap your security key — FIDO2 sign-in completes in seconds. It also works with YubiKey 5 NFC, Identiv uTrust FIDO2, and other NFC-capable FIDO2 devices.

Does it work with PIV, CAC, and corporate identity cards?

Yes over the contactless interface. For PIV and CAC cards that have a dual-interface chip (most issued since 2015), the reader handles both contactless authentication and certificate-based login via pivclass, yubico-piv-tool, opensc-pkcs11, and Windows native PIV. For contact-only CAC cards (older issues), you’ll need a contact reader — see our Mini USB Smart Card Reader.

Select your currency
0
    0
    Shopping cart
    Your cart is emptyReturn to Shop