> that leaves them 9 digits or a billion possible numbers per credit card issuer.
Issuers won’t issue every number, because that would make it trivial to enumerate valid card numbers. I know that PANs are printed in plain view, but they’re considered sensitive.
> I also wonder if credit card numbers aren't living on borrowed time anyway. Instead of adding more digits it might make sense to remove the digits entirely and only allow token based transactions.
It’s already happening! The tokenisation tech that powers Apple/Google pay can now be used by merchants. Buts it’s currently got very low uptake.
Issuers won’t issue every number, because that would make it trivial to enumerate valid card numbers. I know that PANs are printed in plain view, but they’re considered sensitive.
> I also wonder if credit card numbers aren't living on borrowed time anyway. Instead of adding more digits it might make sense to remove the digits entirely and only allow token based transactions.
It’s already happening! The tokenisation tech that powers Apple/Google pay can now be used by merchants. Buts it’s currently got very low uptake.