Wearable rings are rapidly gaining adoption, especially for health and fitness tracking. But while fitness rings are becoming mainstream, true payment rings remain rare. That’s not by accident.
Orukka was built as a payment ring first — a banking app you wear. And that foundational choice explains why companies like Oura and Samsung Galaxy are unlikely to follow the same path.
Fitness Rings Are Easy to Scale. Payment Rings Are Not.
From a product and business perspective, fitness rings are comparatively simple:
- One global application
- The same biological metrics for all humans
- Minimal country-by-country variation
- High margins from hardware and subscriptions
This model works extremely well for companies like Oura. They sell a ring once and generate recurring revenue through monthly subscriptions.
Payments, however, operate in an entirely different reality.
Payments Are Deeply Regulated and Market-Specific
Payments must be regulated in every single market they operate in. That means:
- Banking partnerships
- Financial licensing
- KYC and AML compliance
- Consumer protection obligations
- Ongoing audits and reporting
Each country has its own rules. There is no “one-size-fits-all” payments app. Fitness data is universal. Money is not.
That’s why most wearable companies stop at fitness.
Orukka: Built as a Banking App, not a Fitness Add-On
Orukka took the hard path. The Orukka payment ring is not an accessory to a phone or watch — it is a standalone payment instrument:
- No batteries
- No charging
- Fully waterproof
- Works even when your phone battery is dead
- Replaces wallets and phones at checkout
This is only possible because Orukka is built as a financial platform, not just a wearable device.
Oura and Samsung Galaxy Focus - Health tacking business model
Oura’s and Samsung Galaxy's business model depends on:
- High hardware margins
- Recurring subscription revenue
- Minimal regulatory exposure
Adding payments would:
- Reduce margins
- Increase operational cost
- Introduce financial risk
- Require country-by-country compliance
Payments would dilute, not enhance, Oura’s core economics.
Orukka Is the First to Combine Payments and Fitness in One App
Orukka also offers fitness rings that connect to the same Orukka app. Users can:
- Pay with a payment-only ring
- Track fitness with a fitness ring
- View spending and fitness in one app
- Compete with other users socially
No other platform in the world combines payments and fitness in a single wearable ecosystem.
Comparison: Orukka vs Oura vs Galaxy Ring
| Feature | Orukka Payment Ring | Oura Fitness Ring | Samsung Galaxy Ring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Purpose | Payments + optional fitness | Fitness & health | Fitness & ecosystem tie-in |
| Needs Charging | ❌ No batteries | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Works Without Phone | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Waterproof | ✅ Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Acts as Banking App | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Subscription Required | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | Likely |
| Regulatory Complexity | High (by design) | Low | Low |
| Fitness + Payments in One App | ✅ Yes (world first) | ❌ No | ❌ No |
Payments Are Hard — That’s Why Orukka Exists
Orukka welcomes collaboration and competition as it helps customers pick and decide the best deals.
