Though great privacy when used offline, which is also pretty sick and the adoption levels defies reason, it’s virtually usable globally both online and offline.
That also assumes every bill you use will be immediately returned to a bank. You’d have no way of knowing where money comes from and belongs to after one hop. Just make a purchase at the supermarket to exchange a 50 for 45 and you’ve got anonymous cash.
What if the government pays the supermarket to do it? They’d have a financial incentive, then. I could imagine this scenario in a high-security authoritarian paradigm.
That said, they do broadly track movements of physical currency. It’s one of, or was one of, their primary tools against counterfeiting, tracking large cash robberies, money laundering, etc.
They might not know “This bill was held by Person X and they spent it at Y which spent it at Z” but they do know “Person X had this bill, and it showed up again in region A. If more with associated numbers also show up in the area Person X is most likely there.”
Yeah so cashiers still handle the cash in US with drawers and having to even out and everything. this is likely why you are getting so many u r crazy replies. I imagine the us will get like that eventually. Myself I almost exclusively use cc so im like an open book.
American in Spain here. Everybody declines USD. Literally got coffee for free this morning because it was the only shop I’ve seen out of like 100 in the week I’ve been here that wouldn’t take card.
For a charge of €2.50, when I offered $5 he opted to take nothing instead.
Why not have local currency while you’re in a foreign country where why would you assume they would accept your money they would have to go to the bank to exchange?
Agreed. We’ve tried. ATMs aren’t working with our cards and every touristy exchange kiosk option charges a shitload in fees. Why not just pay with card when literally every store until our second to last day in the country has been happy to take card? Including bus stations, train stations, taxis, etc. We stopped trying about halfway in when we got to more rural areas and they still happily accepted visa. We wanted to exchange at home before the trip but found out too late that our banks require two weeks notice to exchange currency so they can get it in.
We just learned today to ask and not assume before ordering. We were asking in the beginning but got complacent after the 100th “of course” response lol.
You’d be hard pressed to not find an exchange shop in any major city which is were most people reside these days. And I’ve yet to encounter a currency exchange that doesn’t take USD cash.
I’m just saying you can bring a duffel bag of USD with you and in just about any large city world wide you’ll be fine. Some you can transact directly but most you’ll need to locate an exchange first. Still the most versatile currency there is, and more universally accepted than anything else. Sure your VISA card works just about everywhere too but it’s traceable to the max and there are places where USD works far better than a card.
Though great privacy when used offline, which is also pretty sick and the adoption levels defies reason, it’s virtually usable globally both online and offline.
Bank notes have unique identifiers allowing the government to track the path of your money. Privacy is dead
That also assumes every bill you use will be immediately returned to a bank. You’d have no way of knowing where money comes from and belongs to after one hop. Just make a purchase at the supermarket to exchange a 50 for 45 and you’ve got anonymous cash.
This assumes the supermarket doesn’t track everything
They don’t. It wouldn’t benefit the corporation in any way. They’ll only do what makes money and that would cost money with no return.
What if the government pays the supermarket to do it? They’d have a financial incentive, then. I could imagine this scenario in a high-security authoritarian paradigm.
That scenario only exist in the mind of schizophrenic paranoiacs
We heard this all the time before Snowden
You watch too much anime dude.
I’ll have you know, I’ve watched exactly zero hours of anime this year.
And this would be different from Bitcoin? You know you can track it pretty easily, right?
Not if you make any effort at all to not be tracked
Eh… You think cashiers write down all bill numbers or something?
In my country, it happens that machines are handling paper money. Cashiers are just unauthorized to do it. I bet downvoters come from reddit
No, downvoters are just not paranoiacs.
Also, everyone comes from Reddit.
This is a Reddit clone.
That said, they do broadly track movements of physical currency. It’s one of, or was one of, their primary tools against counterfeiting, tracking large cash robberies, money laundering, etc.
They might not know “This bill was held by Person X and they spent it at Y which spent it at Z” but they do know “Person X had this bill, and it showed up again in region A. If more with associated numbers also show up in the area Person X is most likely there.”
Actual credible source please
Yeah so cashiers still handle the cash in US with drawers and having to even out and everything. this is likely why you are getting so many u r crazy replies. I imagine the us will get like that eventually. Myself I almost exclusively use cc so im like an open book.
That’s why I roam the streets trading bills with strangers
Chad behavior
@ninjan @mod_pp Globally offline? In the US and maybe in some countries that don’t have a stable currency on their own. Anywhere else you can’t use it.
American in Spain here. Everybody declines USD. Literally got coffee for free this morning because it was the only shop I’ve seen out of like 100 in the week I’ve been here that wouldn’t take card.
For a charge of €2.50, when I offered $5 he opted to take nothing instead.
Why not have local currency while you’re in a foreign country where why would you assume they would accept your money they would have to go to the bank to exchange?
Hahahah, imagine going to another country and trying to pay in another currency and being shocked they wouldn’t accept it.
I can’t even spend Scottish notes in England when it’s all Sterling, never mind trying to pay for a small shop coffee in dollars.
Not atypical for Americans, having worked in many industries that cater to tourists I’ve seen that very often…
“I tried putting my money the slot machine, how come it doesn’t work?”
“It’s USD sir, you’ll need to change it for CAD…”
“😯”
I understand it’s easier for you just to use a card, so you don’t think it’s necessary, but it’s probably a good idea to carry a few euros at least
Agreed. We’ve tried. ATMs aren’t working with our cards and every touristy exchange kiosk option charges a shitload in fees. Why not just pay with card when literally every store until our second to last day in the country has been happy to take card? Including bus stations, train stations, taxis, etc. We stopped trying about halfway in when we got to more rural areas and they still happily accepted visa. We wanted to exchange at home before the trip but found out too late that our banks require two weeks notice to exchange currency so they can get it in.
We just learned today to ask and not assume before ordering. We were asking in the beginning but got complacent after the 100th “of course” response lol.
yeah makes sense
You’d be hard pressed to not find an exchange shop in any major city which is were most people reside these days. And I’ve yet to encounter a currency exchange that doesn’t take USD cash.
@ninjan So you first have to exchange it for real currency in order to use it?
I’m just saying you can bring a duffel bag of USD with you and in just about any large city world wide you’ll be fine. Some you can transact directly but most you’ll need to locate an exchange first. Still the most versatile currency there is, and more universally accepted than anything else. Sure your VISA card works just about everywhere too but it’s traceable to the max and there are places where USD works far better than a card.