- Home
- Learn
- ARK Shards
NFC system
The physical key to your digital world
An ARK Shard is an engraved 316 stainless steel plaque with an NFC chip inside, paired one to one with a phygital item. Tap it with your phone to prove the item is real and see who owns it.
Built in layers
Two steel plates, an NFC casing with the chip inside and three custom bolts that hold it together.
Laser cut steel
The top plate is 316 stainless steel, laser cut with the ARKHIVE A. The casing below shows through it.
The chip inside
A laser cut casing holds the NFC chip between the plates. It is the part your phone reads.
Engraved on the back
The back plate carries the engraving: RW NFT, made in Canada, the token ID, the edition and 1 of 1.
Tap to verify
Hold any NFC phone to the shard. It confirms the item is authentic and shows the NFT it is paired with and who owns it.
About ARK Shards
Your asset, your proof
The chip inside uses NFC, the same tap technology as contactless cards. Tap the shard to check ownership, open members-only content or confirm an artwork is authentic. It stays in sync with your ARKHIVE wallet.
Premium encasing
Presented with museum-grade quality
Every ARK Shard arrives in a precision-crafted display box with the shard, its NFC certificate and the paired artwork print. The encasing protects the asset and gives it a physical presence.
- Plates
- Laser cut 316 stainless steel, top and back
- Engraving
- RW NFT, token ID, edition, ARKHIVE powered systems
- Authentication
- NFC chip in a laser cut casing, tap with any NFC phone
- Assembly
- Three custom 316 stainless steel bolts
- Pairing
- One shard per phygital item
- Made in
- Canada
Main features
Precision hardware for the on-chain world
Each ARK Shard unites your digital asset with a physical, NFC-linked identifier built for permanence, authentication and real-world utility.
NFC authentication
Verify ownership and provenance instantly with a secure embedded NFC chip synced to the ARKHIVE marketplace.
Tamper-proof build
Engraved steel plates built to outlast environmental wear, heat and physical damage.
Real-world integration
Unlock galleries, events, gated content or physical perks by scanning your shard on supported readers.
Collector-grade
Premium etching, weight and detail designed for display, collecting and archival presentation.
On-chain sync
Shard data reflects metadata changes, asset transfers and verification logs in real time.
Certificate and artwork
Select shards come with an authenticated print and a matching NFC certificate for complete physical provenance.
Shard FAQs
Understanding the ARK Shard
How ARK Shards work, how they prove an object is real and what comes with every plaque.
What is an ARK Shard?
A plaque with a secure NFC chip linked to your ARKHIVE NFT or real-world asset. Tap it with a phone to check it any time.
How does the tap work?
Hold an NFC-enabled phone to the shard. The chip confirms ownership and opens the asset’s on-chain profile, history and any perks or gated content.
Can the shard be damaged or tampered with?
The steel plaque resists heat, scratches, moisture and wear. The NFC chip is sealed inside with three custom 316 stainless steel bolts, which makes tampering extremely difficult.
Does each shard come with a certificate?
Select editions include an NFC authentication card and a matching printed certificate.
Is the shard tied to only one NFT?
Each shard is linked to a specific asset, collection or edition. When ownership changes, the shard can be reassigned through your ARKHIVE wallet.
Do I need the shard to use my NFT?
No. The shard is an optional physical anchor. Your NFT works fully on-chain without it.
Secure your ARK Shard today
Own the physical anchor to your digital identity. Configure yours in the ARKHIVE 3D store.