If the current trend of declining cash usage in the UK continues, the country could become an entirely cashless society in just five years, according to Merchant Machine. Probably the same year the last bank branch will have closed.
We have been issuing banknotes for over 300 years and make sure the banknotes we all use are of high quality. While the future demand for cash is uncertain, it is unlikely that cash will die out any time soon.
UK Finance research has shown that 39% of adults live an almost cashless life. As well as predicting that cash payments in the UK will continue to decline, and that by 2031, cash will account for 6% of all payments.
Key Takeaways. A cashless society is coming: Due to the influence of COVID-19 and the growing popularity of digital payment methods like digital wallets, digital payment apps, and cryptocurrency, the US is well on its way to becoming a cashless society.
CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies) are gaining traction as governments and central banks explore more efficient and traceable financial systems. The transition from cash to digital currency depends on factors like adoption, regulation, and public trust.
No More Cash: What Will Replace Money by 2050? | AI Prediction
Which country is cashless?
Sweden leads the Nordic countries—and all other nations worldwide—in its efforts to become a cashless economy. But countries such as Finland and Norway also aim to have their economies dominated by digital payments.
Some say it will be the euro; others, perhaps the Japanese yen or China's renminbi. And some call for a new world reserve currency, possibly based on the IMF's Special Drawing Right or SDR, a reserve asset. None of these candidates, however, is without flaws.
While its share of foreign currency reserves, currently at 58%, may continue to gradually decline as some central banks diversify into assets like gold, it is far from being replaced. Also, the dollar continues to be the most-used and trusted currency for global transactions.
Cash payments in Australia are disappearing faster than most retailers realise, with usage plummeting to just 13% of transactions by 2024. Cash usage is rapidly declining and will probably not be viable for many by 2030. We are now looking at a cashless society.
Although China is highly advanced in digital payments, cash is still accepted almost everywhere. While businesses shouldn't refuse cash payments, it's a good idea to carry smaller banknotes to ensure everything goes smoothly. Also, if you're visiting rural areas, the use of digital payments may not be as widespread.
The use of cash has fallen dramatically in recent years, as card and mobile payments have risen in popularity. The pandemic accelerated this trend – but since then cash seems to be on the rise once more.
To survive in a market economy your have to buy stuff, which means if you cannot access the payments infrastructure you'll be severely at risk. While many of the world's poorest people have historically struggled to earn high incomes, they do not struggle to spend their small incomes in the form of cash.
Once seen as a society favouring physical currency, Japan saw the ratio of cashless payments rise to 42.8% in 2024, up from 13.2% in 2010 and hitting the government's 40% goal a year earlier than targeted, government data showed.
Cryptocurrency hasn't delivered on its promise to replace money. It's just created a new way to gamble. Most Americans have bank accounts — reliable places to store money that are federally insured, carefully regulated, and generally better than coffee cans full of cash.
The future of money is expected to be heavily influenced by technology. Predictions include the rise of cashless societies, the growth of cryptocurrencies, the continued adoption of digital currencies, and the potential offering of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) by governments.
Yes, your money is safe in the bank as long as it's in an FDIC-insured institution, and we recommend keeping it there in 2025. See our list of safest banks in the U.S. During times of economic uncertainty, it's common to worry about your security.
Sweden is not the only Nordic country backpedalling on plans for a cashless society. Last year Norway, which has a popular equivalent to Swish called Vipps MobilePay, brought in legislation that means retailers can be fined or sanctioned if they will not accept cash.
Although paper-based currencies are becoming less popular, they will likely stick around for the foreseeable future. Dollars and cents may become harder to use, but as with many obsolete technologies, there are enough users to ensure demand doesn't disappear completely.
Cash Is No Longer King: Why Card Payments Dominate in 2025. There was a time when cash was king—when every sale involved bills, coins, and a cash drawer you had to count out at the end of the day. But in 2025, that crown is slipping fast. Customers expect speed, ease, and digital convenience.
Given the concerns over tariffs and a potential global trade war, a growing number of investors have suggested that Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) might eventually replace the U.S. dollar and become the global reserve currency. Is this likely to happen? The answer, of course, is no.
In many ways, cash offers a level of monetary security that a cashless system cannot. Since law enforcement can track digital transactions and/or freeze bank accounts, many criminals—including drug cartels and terrorist organizations—operate in cash. It's an easy way for them to keep their money safe.
De-dollarization is an effort by a growing number of countries to reduce the role of the U.S. dollar in international trade. Countries like Russia, India, China, Brazil and Malaysia, among others, are seeking to set up trade channels using currencies other than the almighty dollar.
Bahraini Dinar (BHD), which replaced the Gulf Rupee in 1965 is known to be the next strongest currency in the world. It's the country's oil wealth and strong financial sector that contributes to their economic strength. BHD's exchange rate has remained unchanged for years, reflecting Bahrain's financial resilience.
My conclusion: Bitcoin is not the money of the future and certainly not a future 'world money'. If it survives, which it may, it will probably be as a high risk asset class. As such, it may strongly increase in value in the future, but it could just as easily go the other way and end up valueless. The buyer beware.
