I have thought about those verses before, and found it interesting that the "mark" is in the hand, and forehead.
The hands are what we do things with (representing actions), and the head is where our cognitive abilities happen (representing thoughts). So our thoughts, and actions are probably more relevant then whether we literally have a chip/mark in our hand or forehead.
I don’t think that it will be about the actual mark. My guess is that you will have to swear allegiance to the system that allows you to have the mark in order to receive it.
The "hand and forehead" thing is an exact parallel of:
Deuteronomy 6:8 “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead."
Deuteronomy 11:18 "“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead."
These instructions can be taken literally (you must physically write down the law and physically attach it to your hand and forehead). But I think this is far better read figuratively - everything we do, and everything we think, must first and foremost be guided by God's law.
Revelation 13:16-17 "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
This is an exact replacement of God's law as the guide for our thoughts and actions. We will be forced to accept something different to God's law as our primary guiding philosophy - and if we do not accept that we will not be allowed to buy or sell. There may be a physical mark to signify this, or may not. But the fundamental point will be the replacement of God's law with something else. At present, we can believe what we like and can trade with whoever. But in the near future you may not be allowed to trade if you commit "wrongthink".
And that is already starting. Paypal cancels the accounts of people who commit "wrongthink". Youtube demonetises people. These are just the beginning. I think this will expand until you cannot buy or sell unless you accept the world system as being superior to God's law.