Sweden begins transition to e-Krona cryptocurrency as cash will no longer be accepted as a medium from 2023 payments.
The Central Bank of Sweden is testing the first central digital currency bankin the world. The e-krona cryptocurrency will be simple and user-friendly and will be tested in an isolated environment. Thus, the e-Krona is expected to accelerate the country's transition to a cashless society.
As already announced, from 24 March 2023, cash will not be accepted as a means of payment in Sweden. Of course the coins and banknotes will not disappear, but no one will be able to use them and they will end up as collectibles in museum collections.
In Sweden, card payments account for 58% of transactions, and only 6% are made in cash. 80% of Swedes have a card in their possession, as banks issue debit cards to citizens over the age of seven, of course with parental consent.
Sweden uses σαν φυσικό νόμισμα την κορόνα και όχι το ευρώ. Η διαχείριση μετρητών είναι εξαιρετικά δαπανηρή για την χώρα, λόγω των συστημάτων υψηλής ασφάλειας. Ταυτόχρονα το σύνολο του πληθυσμού της Σουηδίας έχει κινητή κάλυψη και τα τελευταία χρόνια, σχεδόν όλες οι αγορές γίνονται ηλεκτρονικά: μέσω χρεωστικής / πιστωτικής κάρτας χρησιμοποιώντας chip και Pin και μέσω της τεχνολογίας ανέπαφων συναλλαγών.
The targeting of cards as the exclusive means of transactions is also observed in other Nordic countries, such as Finland, Νορβηγία, Denmark and Iceland. Both banks and governments are encouraging citizens to adopt the cashless economy.
Another reason why Sweden is abolishing cash is the fact that bank robberies, drug and arms trafficking and other illegal transactions are significantly reduced.