ST Introduces First Secure NFC Chip for Matter 1.5 Smart-home Onboarding
STMicroelectronics has introduced the ST25DA-C, a secure NFC Forum Type 4 tag designed for the Matter 1.5 tap-to-pair onboarding flow. It’s the first commercial chip built for the updated standard, aimed at simplifying installation of smart-home devices ranging from lighting and HVAC modules to access-control and security systems.
Matter 1.5 on the ST25DA-C
Matter 1.5 formalizes NFC as an alternative to Bluetooth LE or QR code provisioning. With the ST25DA-C, users tap a smartphone to the device to commission it, with the chip performing the required SPAKE2+ and signature operations. The device can run these cryptographic steps fully batteryless, harvesting energy from the 13,56 MHz NFC field. ST says this reduces failure rates in field installations and makes commissioning easier for unpowered or hard-to-reach accessories.
New to this chip is the integration of Matter OTA support over I²C, allowing manufacturers to route firmware updates through the NFC tag interface. The chip also brings built-in storage for keys, certificates, and Matter attributes, with more than 3 KB of non-volatile memory allocated for provisioning data.
Beyond onboarding, the ST25DA-C includes a secure microcontroller with active shielding, environmental monitors, fault-injection protection, AES-CCM/CTR support, ECDH/ECDSA, and an NIST 800-90B TRNG. It is based on Common Criteria–certified hardware and targets SESIP Level 3.
From a hardware perspective, the device supports both contact and contactless operation, offers automatic antenna tuning, and includes ESD ratings of 6 kV HBM and 1 kV CDM. It exposes an I²C interface (up to 400 kHz) and ships in a 3 × 2 mm UFDFPN-8 package with a –25°C to +85°C temperature range.
ST notes that the chip also supports “built-in equipment identification”, intended to streamline the commissioning of multi-device kits, potentially allowing one tap to bring a whole accessory set onto a Matter network. And because NFC can replace Bluetooth LE solely for onboarding, the bill of materials can drop for devices that don’t otherwise need a BLE radio—though this does depend on end-users having NFC-capable smartphones.
Availability
Samples of the ST25DA-C are available now, with mass production planned for 2026. Datasheets, evaluation boards, and detailed documentation are available through ST sales channels.
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