A chip-based card is provided with on-card security. The card in a non-activated state is fully resistant to any power received from a card reader, such that a chip in the card is unable to be powered on by the card reader when the card is inserted to the card reader for a transaction. A plurality of pressure contact points are provided on the card. When a correct number of correct pressure points are pinched by a card holder before insertion of the card into the card reader, a custom amount of resistance is removed such that a custom amount of voltage is capable of being received from the card reader for powering up the chip. In an embodiment, the customized voltage drives firmware execution on a processor of the chip to produce customized output for the transaction.