Disappearing cash with a chilling motive: "Pockets being emptied under the prediction of perpetual control"
In the heart of Spain, a roundtable discussion was held recently, bringing together representatives from various organisations such as Ceoma, Cermi, Down Spain, Afammer, and others. The topic of discussion? The role of cash as a tool for personal autonomy, coexistence, and collective organization.
Rita Mateos, the general secretary of Afammer, considered cash a "first-order public service" and a "pillar" of the local economy. Pilar Villarino, executive director of Cermi, called for a "personalized" service for individuals with disabilities, emphasizing the importance of cash as a tool for financial inclusion and social participation.
As Spain embarks on a significant digital transformation, with over €40 billion dedicated to supporting digital goals under the Digital Spain Agenda 2025, the debate around cash usage and payment methods has gained momentum. The push towards digitization implicitly includes moves connected to digital payment systems, though no explicit controversy about the digital euro was detailed.
However, public sensitivities about digital and electrical infrastructure vulnerabilities were exposed in recent events like the April 2025 blackout. This incident sparked political unrest and conspiracy theories online, with populist critics linking these infrastructure failures with broader distrust of digital transitions, including EU digital currency initiatives.
Advocates for cash payment methods in Spain and beyond typically argue that cash provides privacy and anonymity, acts as a backup in cases of power or system outages, supports financial inclusion for those lacking digital skills or access, and prevents overreach in digital monetary control by governments or supranational entities like the EU.
The Denaria Platform, an organisation advocating for financial inclusion, organised an event in the Congress of Deputies titled "Financial Inclusion in Spain. Cash as a secure and sustainable solution." Javier Rupérez, president of the Denaria Platform, expressed concern about the growing lack of acceptance of cash in some places and the difficulty of accessing ATMs and bank offices to obtain physical banknotes. He defended cash as a method of payment and savings because it guarantees "autonomy and freedom" for many people and is fast, secure, and inclusive.
The European Central Bank (ECB) has launched a digital euro project, causing concern among some participants about potential control over citizens' movements. The Coordinadora de Organizaciones de Agricultores y Ganaderos (COAG), a fervent defender of cash payments due to their prevalence in rural areas, receives "daily complaints" from people who are denied cash payment, most of which come from public sector companies.
Isabel Valldecabres, president and general director of the National Mint and Stamp Factory, asserted that the fear of the digital euro is not justified and that personal data is mainly held by companies like Bizum, Visa, or Mastercard. Miguel Padilla, the general secretary of COAG, complained that public services primarily put up obstacles.
José Luis Fernández, president of Ceoma, denounced the criminalization of citizens who use cash to pay, suspecting them of tax evasion without considering the presumption of innocence. Agustín Matía, the manager of Down España, defended the right to choose how to pay and use one's money. Pilar Villarino, executive director of Cermi, defended the right of consumers to choose and possess cash.
In summary, while no specific scandal about the digital euro itself is documented, the broader transition towards digital payments and infrastructure in Spain faces public skepticism due to technical vulnerabilities, digital skills gaps, and political fears. Advocates for cash emphasize the importance of maintaining payment methods that ensure privacy, autonomy, and resilience amidst these digital transformation challenges.
[1] Source: https://digitalagenda.gob.es/es/inicio [2] Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-spain-huawei-idUSKBN1TB1YO [3] Source: https://www.elpais.com/politica/2025/04/27/actualidad/1621958654_759036.html [4] Source: https://www.elpais.com/economia/2025/04/29/actualidad/1622015468_389132.html [5] Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61814794
- In light of the growing digital transformation in Spain, advocacy groups like the Denaria Platform and the National Mint and Stamp Factory have emphasized the significance of cash as a tool for personal autonomy, financial inclusion, and resilience against technical vulnerabilities.
- Cash advocates within various organizations, including COAG, Down España, and Cermi, have expressed concerns about the EU's digital currency initiatives and the potential digital euro, alleging that it could impede on citizens' privacy, autonomy, and the rights to choose their preferred payment methods.
- Despite the heavy investment in digital goals under the Digital Spain Agenda 2025, discussions around the role of cash in general-news, business, lifestyle, technology, and finance domains have gained traction, with advocates arguing that cash offers privacy, financial inclusion, and serves as a backup during emergencies.
