[47282847]

Isn’t it because the US supports large scale money laundering and tax evasion whereas more civilized societies try to get rid of it?

[electronbeam]

I think its meant as not spooking the people in countries with unreliable currencies that hoard USD like one might gold bars

[47282847]

So, money laundering. ;-)

[electronbeam]

Its not laundering to buy gold and store it, same with stashing USD

[47282847]

Why is it a problem then to take it and have it replaced by newer and safer bills?

In countries that do introduce newer standards, you can still take old bills to the central bank and convert them.

I don’t buy that argument. It doesn’t make sense, especially compared to the immense damage of fraud.