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This makes me glad to live in the UK, where it seems to me we might just have the best payments industry in the world.

\* Faster (instant) payments 24/7.

\* All purchase transactions are generally assumed to be debit card, credit cards are never required and very much optional (I don't have a credit card)

\* Contactless payments are instant, easy and completely standard, everything from the corner shop upward has them. You don't need your PIN for less than £30 (£45 quid from next week).

\* A banking industry that is quick to refund anything from any fraud without asking, which makes for a low case of fraud because they pro-actively block odd transactions.

\* Up to £75k insured per bank

I've often heard stories about payments that I just can't relate to because it seems our payment industry is so good. We have no need for bitcoin and the trendy start-ups don't even gain much traction because the banks own apps are normally just as good anyway.