When magic tricks backfire, you usually just need a new deck of cards. Zi Teng Wang learned that body modifications come with higher stakes. The Missouri-based magician and molecular biologist forgot the password to an RFID chip embedded in his own hand—leaving him literally locked out of technology inside his body.
“I’m living my own cyberpunk dystopia life right now, locked out of technology inside my body, and it’s my own damn fault,” Wang posted on Facebook in November 2025, complete with an x-ray showing the white outline of the chip between his thumb and index finger.
From Stage Prop to Digital Paperweight
Wang originally implanted the RFID chip as a performance gimmick—audience members would press their smartphones against his hand to trigger magical effects. The theatrical impact disappointed him, so he repurposed the chip by programming it with a Bitcoin address linked to an Imgur meme.
Years later, when the link died and Wang tried updating the chip’s contents, he discovered he’d completely forgotten his security credentials. The chip now sits uselessly under his skin, a permanent reminder of poor password hygiene.
Recovery Requires Extreme Measures
Tech-savvy friends delivered sobering news about Wang’s recovery options. He’d need to strap an RFID reader to his palm for “days to weeks” while brute-forcing every possible password combination. This isn’t your typical “forgot password” scenario where you click a reset link.
The chip’s security protocols demand exhaustive computational attacks that would make his hand look like a low-budget cyborg experiment. Most people would consider this effort excessive for recovering access to a defunct meme link.
He’s Not the First Locked-Out Cyborg
Daniel Oberhaus, a former Vice writer, faced identical frustration after drunkenly getting an NFC chip implant and forgetting his passcode. He spent hours reviewing technical documentation before recovering access and dubbed himself “the world’s most useless cyborg.”
His advice for prospective chip recipients: “Do it sober.” As companies like Neuralink push brain-computer interfaces toward mainstream adoption, these cautionary tales highlight critical infrastructure risks—what happens when companies fold, services disappear, or security protocols become obsolete?
Wang’s predicament perfectly captures the Wild West nature of personal biohacking. Your phone’s locked screen is annoying. Your locked body chip is existential comedy. Before you embed any technology in your flesh, document those passwords somewhere your future self will actually find them.
