> Chaum published the idea of anonymous electronic money in a 1983 paper; eCash software on the user's local computer stored money in a digital format, cryptographically signed by a bank
Octopus cards had already been introduced in Hong Kong, and I think similar cards had been trialled elsewhere, so it might be that sort of thing they’re thinking of?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mondex
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecash
> Chaum published the idea of anonymous electronic money in a 1983 paper; eCash software on the user's local computer stored money in a digital format, cryptographically signed by a bank