On an X9 bus headed toward Metro Center last week, riders quickly tapped their SmarTrip cards as they got on board. But at one stop, the line paused as a man slid dollar bills into the cash feeder. The brief slowdown illustrated why Metro planners are considering barring cash on as many as 13 express bus routes, forcing the 12 percent of bus riders who use bills and change to switch to SmarTrip cards. Critics worry that the idea, headed for a November vote by Metro’s board, will make it harder for the poor, homeless and disabled to take express buses — relegating them to a sort of second-class status on the slower local buses that would continue to take cash.
Read more
A deeper understanding of the ethical debate about going cashless
In 2020, Cash has grown (a lot)
04/05/2021
Cash still rules in Pakistan
04/02/2021
Norway Likes neither Cash or Bitcoin
03/29/2021
How banks are driving to a cashless economy
03/27/2021
London Underground soon all cashless?
03/24/2021
In Washington Metro wants to make cash disappear: Critics worry the change will disproportionately affect the poor
Go Further
London Underground soon all cashless?
- 03/24/2021
The State of Idaho wants to protect cash
- 03/11/2021
Total control: the Chinese way to punish criminal
- 11/18/2020
EU Magistrate fights against Cashless economy
- 10/02/2020
What about coin shortage?
- 08/03/2020
Survey shows cash is still popular
- 10/24/2019
Doing without cash will mean much less fun
- 10/03/2019
A growing number of cities say no to cashless stores
- 09/13/2019
Stats Canada requested banking information of 500,000 Canadians without their knowledge
- 05/24/2019
In the UK, the Commons Treasury committee warn that move to cashless society will hit elderly and poor
- 05/15/2019
People refuse cashless stores in Philadelphia
- 04/26/2019
Access to Cash Review : "Transition to cashless Society could lead to Financial Exclusion and System Vulnerability"
- 03/15/2019
Cyber theft - A serious concern in cashless India
- 03/13/2019
Banknotes are actually good for the environment !
- 02/12/2019
The ecological impact of the disappearance of cash
- 01/29/2019
Cash is not the king of crime and tax evasion
- 12/07/2018
Banking Security
Academic Research
The cashless society from an ethical point of view
The debate about the move towards a cashless society has been at the center of the scene for several years, now. Various angles have been taken by economists, politicians, banking institutions and sociologists. Beyond the technicalities of the debate, lies the question of freedom, of inter-citizen solidarity and of governmental responsibility. The debate cannot remain in the hands of financial specialists, it is first and foremost an ethical, political and societal issue.

Newsletter subscription
Top Ten Things To Know
The debate
The UK on its way to Cashless Society?
Cashless public transports hurts the most vulnerable users
Brits are not ready for a Cashless society
Access to cash: Sweden is thinking twice about all cashless
Philippines want to turn cashless
The Philippines government stated Tuesday that it is prepared to become a fully cashless society,...
The wrong and unknown sides of cashless charity
Some UK politicians battle against cashless
Is Pakistan eager to follow cashless India?
Terrorism, money laundring: the risks of digital currency trading
The Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) has informed Macau News Agency that the trading of virtual...
Venezuela risks cashless
The website "Cashless Economy" (cashless-economy.com) is edited by individuals and civil society groups fully committed to defending privacy and civil liberties against abuse and the risks inherent in a cashless society.