Ask HN: Developer friendly credit card?

[rgovind]

Is there a credit card out there that is "developer friendly"? Like, can I use an API to create temporary credit numbers, push messages to an endpoint when new charges are posted, etc. I am looking for a credit card that allows me to automate my life.

[startupdiscuss]

Very interesting idea though I think that would be hard to do since there are a limited number of 16 digit numbers and if people could use a program to generate an infinite number (say, one for each transaction that is temporary so it can never be stolen) we would run out.

However, I do think that some combination of "paying by email" and some email programming could get you something interesting.

In any case, this idea should get more people thinking about the possibilities.

[JoeAltmaier]

If a new number were used every millisecond, they would last 300 million years. So maybe not run out soon.

[startupdiscuss]

But how many numbers would the world use per millisecond?

[JoeAltmaier]

Yeah its actually too close for comfort. I'd like to see it that number squared (32 digits at least). Because if they're chosen randomly, we're already at one collision a year!

[JoeAltmaier]

I think Bank of America has an online service like this. My friend pays for everything online with single-use credit card numbers with a limit exactly equal to what he's buying.