Chapter I
1 of 22 · ~5 min

The Handshake

Every credit card transaction is a five-way handshake that happens in under two seconds. Tap the card. Watch it unfold. Meet everyone in the room.

Scene 1 · The Tap

First — tap your card on the terminal.

No reading required. Just touch the card to start the transaction. Everything else will happen on its own. (You can replay any time.)

4539 1234 5678 7821
Your Name
VISA
tap me 👆
Total amount
₹4,200
Waiting for card...
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
SWIGGY POS · ₹4,200
💳
You
Cardholder
🏪
Swiggy
Merchant
⚙️
Razorpay
Gateway / Acquirer
🌐
VISA
Network
🏛️
HDFC
Issuer
tap the card to begin →
Ready
Scene 2 · The Cast

Click each player to learn who they are and how they profit.

All five of these players were just involved in your transaction. They each have a job. They each get paid.

💳
You
Cardholder
🏪
Merchant
The Seller
⚙️
Acquirer
Gateway & Bank
🌐
Network
The Rails
🏛️
Issuer
Your Bank

You just completed your first transaction.

That entire dance happens every time you swipe — and you now understand more about it than 95% of cardholders. In the next chapter, we'll get you a card.