cashless

Cashless refers to an economic or transactional system in which money is exchanged without the use of physical cash. In cashless environments, value is transferred electronically through payment cards, mobile wallets, online transfers, or other digital instruments. Cash may still be accepted but is not required.

Common forms of cashless payments include card payments (debit, credit, prepaid), contactless and mobile payments using near-field communication (NFC), online and app-based payments, bank transfers, and QR-code based transactions. Retail and service providers often offer point-of-sale terminals, mobile apps, or e-commerce checkout options to support cashless payments.

Adoption rates vary by country and demographic. Some nations have high levels of cashless activity, while others rely heavily on cash. Notable trends include widespread mobile payment ecosystems in China and parts of East Asia, card and mobile payments in Europe, and unified payment interfaces in India. Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are digital forms of sovereign money issued by central banks, intended to operate alongside or as a modern alternative to cash; they differ from privately issued payment tokens and cryptocurrencies.

Advantages of cashless systems include faster transactions, reduced handling of physical banknotes, improved transaction records for auditing, and potential cost savings for merchants. They can also expand access to payments for those who lack cash. Disadvantages include the risk of excluding people without bank accounts or smartphones, increased reliance on digital infrastructure, exposure to cybersecurity threats, and concerns about privacy and data collection. Transaction costs and technical outages can also affect reliability, and there is debate about the effects on monetary policy and competition among payment providers.

Overall, cashless describes a movement toward electronic value transfer, with benefits and challenges shaped by technology, regulation, and social inclusion considerations.