Why the War on Cash Is Really a War on Your Freedom

Imagine walking through your favorite city street. The aroma of coffee, the chatter of markets, the clink of coins—except, suddenly, the coins are gone. Instead, every transaction is a silent, seamless tap on a phone or card. Welcome to the world of cloudmoney, where the disappearance of cash is sold as progress, but the reality is far more complex and consequential.

Brett Scott’s 'Cloudmoney' peels back the curtain on the forces driving the cashless agenda. Banks and tech companies stand to gain billions from transaction fees and the data trails every digital payment leaves behind. Governments, too, enjoy the enhanced surveillance and control that comes with digital transactions. But what about the rest of us? The shift isn’t just about convenience. It’s about power. Cash is anonymous, resilient in crisis, and accessible to everyone. Digital payments, on the other hand, require bank accounts, smartphones, and reliable networks—things millions around the world still lack.

Consider the pandemic: as fear of germs spread, many businesses stopped accepting cash, citing health concerns. Yet, central banks reported record demand for physical notes, as people sought security in something tangible. In moments of crisis—blackouts, natural disasters, or banking failures—cash is the fallback. When it’s gone, so is your autonomy.

The war on cash is also a war on privacy. Every digital payment is a data point, a potential tool for surveillance or exclusion. Activists and ordinary people alike have found their accounts frozen or transactions blocked, sometimes by algorithm, sometimes by policy. The elderly, the unbanked, and those who live on the edge are often the first to be excluded when cash disappears.

So, who benefits from a cashless future? The answer is clear: those who control the digital infrastructure. As Scott argues, defending cash is about defending our right to transact freely, privately, and inclusively. The fight for cash is a fight for freedom, and it’s one we cannot afford to lose.
References: Brett Scott's 'Cloudmoney', Autonomy Work review, Cybersalon review 1 2