Implementation of the Volna Technology with Mutual Authentication for Finopolis 2025

Clients

The Challenge

We continue to share the innovative solutions we prepared for Finopolis 2025. Earlier, we wrote about the biometric age verification system presented at the booths of VTB Bank and the National Payment Card System (NSPK). Today, we focus on a new payment technology called Volna—more specifically, on the mutual authentication mechanism for BLE transactions.

Our regular readers may recall our in-depth analysis of BLE payments, in which we examined not only the technology’s strengths but also its potential vulnerabilities. As with any payment method, security is paramount, and BLE payments are no exception. To ensure maximum protection, the system relies on a multi-layer terminal authentication framework, providing defense in depth at every stage of the transaction.

The key partners in this project were the National Payment Card System (NSPK) and Sinara Bank. The solution was unveiled at Finopolis 2025 at the NSPK booth. The payment instrument used in the demo was the standalone Nexgo N92 terminal.

Hardware

The autonomous POS terminal Nexgo N92 was selected as the payment device. This choice was deliberate: the N92 fully meets all requirements for operating the Volna technology. In addition, the terminal offers strong performance, a bright display, and a sleek design—making it an excellent fit for retail environments. It is worth noting that MST is the official distributor of Nexgo terminals in the Russian market.

The Solution

Having previously worked with the Volna technology, we were approached by our partners at Sinara Bank with a proposal to implement a new authentication method within the JoinPOS payment application (registered with the Ministry of Digital Development under No. №24519, dated October 18, 2024). After completing all technical and legal alignments, we proceeded with development.

The mutual authentication mechanism can be conceptually divided into two stages:

1. Validation of the terminal certificates by the Volna payment application.
2. Dynamic authentication of the terminal.

During the first stage, multiple certificates are verified. If this step is successful, the Volna application proceeds to dynamic terminal authentication.

Dynamic authentication ensures that the terminal proves it is the legitimate owner of the presented certificate. The Volna application performs the verification, after which the terminal is authenticated.

Once mutual authentication was implemented, the transaction flow required a full redesign. JoinPOS supports flexible payment method management: merchants can enable or disable specific options—cards, FPS, and others—directly in the terminal settings. For this project, however, we chose a different approach: a single, unified payment screen that aggregates all available methods, including Volna.

This approach proved ideal for an exhibition environment. Visitors did not need to navigate complex menus: the screen displayed a familiar numeric keypad and a single prominent “Pay” button. The design is intuitive and functional, and it has also demonstrated strong performance in real-world retail scenarios where simplicity is critical.

The Exhibition

As in previous years, Finopolis brought together the most prominent players in the fintech industry. Over the course of three days, the event welcomed more than 3,000 attendees. The business program, which included 34 sessions, was viewed online by more than 140,000 people.

The NSPK booth traditionally drew particular attention, as the company has long been known for showcasing cutting-edge fintech innovations. Visitors showed strong interest in the new technology and actively explored the demo stand.

For those who could not attend in person, we recorded a short video demonstrating the solution.

Closing Remarks

We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in Finopolis once again. We would like to thank our partners and friends at NSPK and Sinara Bank for their trust and for the outstanding collaboration at every stage of the project.

Together, we not only implemented a new technology but also presented it in full at the country’s leading fintech event.

Our company’s philosophy goes beyond delivering high-quality payment solutions. We are driven by a genuine interest in innovation, which fuels the growth of both our business and the industry as a whole.