We’re not being forced into a cashless society—we’re walking straight into it, eyes wide shut, tapping our phones and swiping our cards without asking: What are we giving up?

Philip Lane, the chief economist at the European Central Bank, recently called for a digital euro to compete with U.S. tech firms and private stablecoins like Tether. But this isn’t just about innovation. It’s about power and control. Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) would eliminate paper money and eventually sideline even private electronic payments. Your financial freedom could become a thing of the past.

Cash is Disappearing. Privacy is Next.

Most of Gen Z doesn’t carry cash. They rely on digital tools—Venmo, Apple Pay, credit cards. In the last five years, cash usage among 18–24-year-olds dropped from 28% to just 13%. Convenience is winning. But what we gain in speed, we lose in autonomy.

CBDCs give the government—or any central authority—complete visibility into your financial life. Where you shop. What you donate. What you eat. What you believe.

In a fully digital system, privacy vanishes. And once cash is gone, your ability to opt out of that surveillance disappears too.

What Happens When They Flip the Switch on Negative Interest Rates?

Here’s where it gets worse. In the 2010s, central planners flirted with negative interest rates—meaning, your money in the bank would shrink over time. That didn’t fully take hold because people could just withdraw cash.

But in a cashless world? You can’t withdraw. You’re forced to watch your savings erode or spend it quickly before it loses more value.

That’s why holding tangible assets—especially gold and silver—has never been more important. Unlike digital dollars, gold and silver are immune to negative interest rates, political manipulation, or cyber interference. They are yours, in your hands, outside the system.

Low-Income Americans Will Be Hit the Hardest

Cash isn’t just a preference for low-income households—it’s a necessity. Those earning under $25,000 use cash for 36% of payments. Many are unbanked or underbanked. Force them into the digital financial system, and you’re forcing them into higher fees, reduced access, and less freedom.

Meanwhile, the informal economy—which relies on cash—makes up 7% of U.S. GDP. Eliminate paper currency, and you gut that lifeline for millions.

Gold and Silver: The Lifeboats in a Digital Storm

Right now, there’s $2.36 trillion in U.S. currency in circulation, with most of it held overseas as a hedge against local economic instability. That’s no accident. Foreign nations like Argentina treat U.S. dollars the way savvy investors treat gold and silver—as a store of value in uncertain times.

As the world marches toward a digital-only financial system—one with potential surveillance, loss of privacy, and forced monetary policy—you need a way out. Gold and silver are more than just metals. They’re independence. They’re insurance. They’re freedom.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

The shift to a cashless society is accelerating. The number of businesses refusing cash is growing. The push for CBDCs is gaining momentum. And society is embracing it all without resistance.

Before the door closes completely, protect yourself. Diversify your savings with tangible, time-tested assets. Because once privacy is gone, and cash is a memory, you’ll be glad you held something real.

Source: https://reason.com/2025/03/25/sleepwalking-into-a-cashless-society/