Do you think we will soon have mainly cashless societies, with people storing their payment credentials on “digital wallets” and shopping via mobile devices? What do you still use cash for?

Use of coins about 2800 years ago was revolutionary, but barter stayed. A shift to e-transactions is not going to remove cash from commerce either. However, new technologies would hypothetically replace even swiping your keitai over a scanner in the convenience store.

Then there is bitcoin, which is increasingly bought stored and used (eg. think Chinese investment in it in lieu of Yuan over which people feel a general lack of control, and it is a lot of bitcoin) - as perhaps a competitor to yen.

Well, there is also the gold market and equity in commodities.

And locally we can still go back to barter.

Especially after the EMP (electro-magnetic pulse)!

Don't think that your convenience here today is going to be the same convenience tomorrow. It won't be. But ya gotta do what ya gotta do, and pay how ya gotta pay.

Mom/Pop stores are here to stay and they will be the last to adopt the technology especially when they have to pay commission to install and plugged into the system.

They were the last to adopt credit cards in which some still does not simply because it costs them commission for every transaction. By law they can't reimburse commission to card users so they have to hike up the price which they are reluctant since it may drive away the patrons that favor their shop.

This is also the reason why you can't pay tax with credit cards or e-money here in Japan.

Yes, we will be mostly cashless. Regarding the previous comments, an electro-magnetic pulse is unlikely to wipe out your bitcoin holdings unless it affects every computer in the world. That's the point of a decentralized currency like bitcoin.

Mom and pop stores will have no problem because the new digital currencies mostly have extremely low usage fees, and there is no cost to entering the system.

The government also wants us to use e-money, so they can track and tax every transaction, no matter how small. Of course, people will try to get around that, so some truly anonymous coins and barter will remain, even if they have to go black market.

Agreed, all electronic forms of payment come with some forms of fees, etc.

Add those all up and see much you pay extra a month for the.convenience.

No service is free(they need to make profit afterall.

Recently there been many robberies of large cash-amounts, not surprising considering how account transfer fees are calculated.

there is no cost to entering the system.

Actually you need to make initial investment in purchasing the register/reader.

They also need to maintain a high speed web connection which some Mom/Pop stores doesn't have.

Cashless will take way longer than expected.

Look at paypal/ebay alone and most people will ask you to send money as a 'Gift' to avoid paying transfer fees( usually calculated as a percentage) + ebay fees.

Till there is payment/transfers without fees cash will rule for most people unless there is no other way/option.

Living in Japan I use cash for just about everything.

A cashless society would be convenient, but it comes at a cost of privacy. I don't like the idea of banks and whoever would be servicing the systems to know at all times where I am, what I'm doing, where I go, and what I buy. To some extent, that's unavoidable (try buying a car or house and paying with cash), but cash allows for anonymity and privacy, which are essential for free societies.

One word: cryptocurrencies.

I'm a firm supporter of mom and pop shops, I make sure I buy from them, keeps the local community going.

Actually you need to make initial investment in purchasing the register/reader.

No you don't. I can accept payment today in any number of cryptocurrencies, and it cost me nothing to do so. Yes, a smart phone or computer is required, but that's hardly an unusual expense for a business.

Banks are pushing cashless society. That way they can charge negative interest as a "maintenance fee". Gov'ts want it because they can save on minting and printing currency which will make the private central banksters happy. When an "error" happens and your money is gone from your account: What account? We have no record you had an account.