The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for using magnetically coupled antennas to enhance receptivity and/or reading range of radio frequency (RF) transaction devices. In some implementations, a method for boosting RF signals includes wirelessly receiving an RF signal from a transaction terminal at a passive antenna. The passive antenna is magnetically coupled to the antenna of a transaction card. The transaction card is inserted in a mobile host device and configured to execute a payment application using user credentials in response to at least a transaction request and transmits at least one transaction response to the transaction terminal based, at least in part, on the executed transaction application and using the antenna either standalone or through the coupled antenna configuration. The RF signal is transmitted to the transaction card using the inductive coupling with the terminal.