this post was submitted on 21 Aug 2023
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[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Though great privacy when used offline, which is also pretty sick and the adoption levels defies reason, it's virtually usable globally both online and offline.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Bank notes have unique identifiers allowing the government to track the path of your money. Privacy is dead

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That also assumes every bill you use will be immediately returned to a bank. You'd have no way of knowing where money comes from and belongs to after one hop. Just make a purchase at the supermarket to exchange a 50 for 45 and you've got anonymous cash.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

This assumes the supermarket doesn't track everything

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago (1 children)

They don't. It wouldn't benefit the corporation in any way. They'll only do what makes money and that would cost money with no return.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Eh... You think cashiers write down all bill numbers or something?

[–] [email protected] -4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

In my country, it happens that machines are handling paper money. Cashiers are just unauthorized to do it. I bet downvoters come from reddit

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No, downvoters are just not paranoiacs.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Also, everyone comes from Reddit.

This is a Reddit clone.

That said, they do broadly track movements of physical currency. It's one of, or was one of, their primary tools against counterfeiting, tracking large cash robberies, money laundering, etc.

They might not know "This bill was held by Person X and they spent it at Y which spent it at Z" but they do know "Person X had this bill, and it showed up again in region A. If more with associated numbers also show up in the area Person X is most likely there."

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Actual credible source please

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Besides over a century's worth of public records of investigations into financial crimes and bank robberies?

https://carnation-inc.com/blogs/money-handling-blog/how-does-the-government-track-marked-bills

https://hiphopwired.com/playlist/pooh-shiesty-federal-indictment-robbery/

https://www.fox6now.com/news/brown-deer-bank-robbery-milwaukee-woman-charges

This must be some zoomer blind spot because this is just common knowledge to anyone that grew up in a cash economy and had a proper taste in fine art (aka heist movies and pulp fiction)

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

GPS tracker, bunch of tweets, website that nobody knows...

I asked for a credible source and have yet to see one 🙂

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Oh, you're not naive, you're just dumb and lazy.

Well, good luck with that.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago

At least I'm not paranoid delusional 🤷

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah so cashiers still handle the cash in US with drawers and having to even out and everything. this is likely why you are getting so many u r crazy replies. I imagine the us will get like that eventually. Myself I almost exclusively use cc so im like an open book.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That’s why I roam the streets trading bills with strangers

[–] [email protected] 16 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

@ninjan @mod_pp Globally offline? In the US and maybe in some countries that don't have a stable currency on their own. Anywhere else you can't use it.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

American in Spain here. Everybody declines USD. Literally got coffee for free this morning because it was the only shop I've seen out of like 100 in the week I've been here that wouldn't take card.

For a charge of €2.50, when I offered $5 he opted to take nothing instead.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Why not have local currency while you're in a foreign country where why would you assume they would accept your money they would have to go to the bank to exchange?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hahahah, imagine going to another country and trying to pay in another currency and being shocked they wouldn't accept it.

I can't even spend Scottish notes in England when it's all Sterling, never mind trying to pay for a small shop coffee in dollars.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Not atypical for Americans, having worked in many industries that cater to tourists I've seen that very often...

"I tried putting my money the slot machine, how come it doesn't work?"

"It's USD sir, you'll need to change it for CAD..."

"😯"

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I understand it's easier for you just to use a card, so you don't think it's necessary, but it's probably a good idea to carry a few euros at least

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Agreed. We've tried. ATMs aren't working with our cards and every touristy exchange kiosk option charges a shitload in fees. Why not just pay with card when literally every store until our second to last day in the country has been happy to take card? Including bus stations, train stations, taxis, etc. We stopped trying about halfway in when we got to more rural areas and they still happily accepted visa. We wanted to exchange at home before the trip but found out too late that our banks require two weeks notice to exchange currency so they can get it in.

We just learned today to ask and not assume before ordering. We were asking in the beginning but got complacent after the 100th "of course" response lol.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

yeah makes sense

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You'd be hard pressed to not find an exchange shop in any major city which is were most people reside these days. And I've yet to encounter a currency exchange that doesn't take USD cash.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

@ninjan So you first have to exchange it for real currency in order to use it?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I'm just saying you can bring a duffel bag of USD with you and in just about any large city world wide you'll be fine. Some you can transact directly but most you'll need to locate an exchange first. Still the most versatile currency there is, and more universally accepted than anything else. Sure your VISA card works just about everywhere too but it's traceable to the max and there are places where USD works far better than a card.