Cash is a symbol of national sovereignty

Banknotes and coins help shape our national identity. The images they display emphasise historical events, prominent personalities, or scientific, industrial and technological advances. Sometimes they highlight biodiversity, including distinctive plants and wildlife.

Elsewhere on the Web provides updates and links to articles related to cash, money and payments curated on the web.

As a worldwide partner to the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Visa has a monopoly on all debit, credit and mobile payments. Spectators are venting their frustration. Paradoxically, the campaign demonstrates the importance of cash in terms of inclusion, protection of privacy and resilience.

Even if political and monetary reforms had a major impact during the second half of the 20th century, the main reason for issuing new banknote series or an upgrade has been the security enhancement of the notes. The constant efforts of the industry have provided good opportunities for this. The issuers can select between various substrates and use several different optically variable features to make the reproduction of the notes difficult.

A new opinion poll by Ifop for the Monnaie de Paris shows that cash remains the most trusted means of payment and that the level of attachment to cash is strengthening.

Cash is embedded in our cultures: writers, painters, sculptors, film directors.. All use banknotes and coins as inspiration for their work and also as a substrate for their art. Cash is also a major source of inspiration for musicians all over the world. Here is my playlist.

The media often overlooks the downsides of digital money services. A powerful narrative that exaggerates the benefits and conceals the downsides supports the growth of fintech in Africa.

Regional conflicts, ramping inflation, national debt crises, and the resurgence of monetary sovereignty all contribute to reshaping the world’s currencies.

The European Central Bank is preparing the next euro banknote series more than 20 years after it launched the first banknotes on 1 January 2002. “European culture” and “Rivers and birds” were chosen as possible themes.

The European Central Bank is preparing the next euro banknote series more than 20 years after the launch of the first banknotes on 1 January 2002. Europeans are invited to express preferences on shortlisted themes in a public survey open until 31 August 2023.

In Sweden, an inquiry concludes that the state should ensure better access to payments, recommends mandating cash acceptance, and sees no current need for a digital krona.

Could legislation contribute to the modernisation of the cash cycle by encouraging the adoption of new technologies and business models?