[ginkgo]

Call me paranoid, but I don't like the idea of all my money transactions being traceable. It's less that I worry about my bank or government but about, for instance, super-market chains linking my buying-behavior to my bank account or card number.

[thematt]

You're not the only one. There's a sizable underground economy in this country that feels the same way about traceability. Organized crime, drug transactions, and black market goods represent an enormous amount of currency exchange. Even non-nefarious businesses like local laundromats or sidewalk vendors deal in cash with the advantage of being able to skimp on their tax reporting.

It would be interesting to see the effects on these "industries" if we were to move to a purely electronic exchange of money.