The vanishing of cash: What a cashless society means for privacy and power
By
John Lanchester
Summary
John Lanchester reflects on the decline of cash usage and availability, noting that he hasn't used cash in a year and that all seven cashpoints near his home have disappeared since the pandemic. The article explores the broader implications of a cashless society, touching on money laundering as a massive global industry, the privatization of money, and the societal consequences of losing physical currency.
Source
Key quotes
· 3 pulledI can't remember the last time I used cash.
Before the pandemic, there were seven cashpoints within a five-minute walk from my house. All of them have now gone.
If it were an industry, money laundering would be the third biggest business in the world, behind commercial property...
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