VezoPay’s Jacob Pinkus (left), and Lawrence Baker

When it comes to wearables, rings as a form factor are on the rise. Samsung recently announced its Galaxy Ring (which won’t be available locally until 2025 – if we’re lucky) and there are rumours, after a patent leak, that the Apple Ring is on its way. Globally, both the Oura and Ultrahuman smart rings are winning customers keen on wellness, but that is not what VezoPay, a new South African smart ring, is about. All of these rings are designed to measure metrics from sleep to steps, but what they cannot do is make payments. “A health ring is for health,” says Jacob Pinkus, the co-founder and managing director of VezoPay. “It’s designed to work within an ecosystem of all the other products that you have.”

According to WorldMetrics, 50% of smart ring users are interested in mobile payments, especially with NFC technology, compared to just 37% who want fitness tracking. This shows a clear preference for convenience and security over other features. VezoPay’s ring is a standalone, battery-free wearable designed specifically for effortless payments. No charging, no apps, just tap and go. For Pinkus, it comes down to simplicity – having a payment option that’s always on hand, without the fuss of managing another device. “It’s secure in a way that if it is stolen, you can stop that token, unlike a phone that’s filled with your personal details,” adds Lawrence Baker, VezoPay’s co-founder.