[Melkman]

Almost all currencies are digital today. Bank notes are just a physical transaction mechanism. You could use Bitcoin notes if you want with the private key under a scratch layer. The big difference is exactly that Bitcoin has no central authority. If that doesn't matter to someone he'd be perfectly happy to use state endorsed currencies.

[xigency]

Digital cash doesn't have a scratch-off layer. It has information associated with its minting and mechanisms to be used in spending and transactions.

> ... perfectly happy to use state endorsed currencies.

Unless what you are looking for is a digital currency.

Being able to send $5,000 cash in the form of information is a separate issue from who controls the money supply. If someone wants to exchange that amount without having access to a distributed network of computers, is that more centralized?

What I'm saying is, I would be happy to use an information based currency, even if it means holding a key with a central authority, if it means being able to make free, anonymous transactions easily with a completely digital, offline currency.

That is not what Bitcoin provides. And it isn't possible to e-mail paper bills, either.