A few days ago, I happened to get on a city bus without a transportation card. At first, I assumed I could simply pay the fare with my cash. But to my surprise, it was what is called a “cashless bus.” When I explained my awkward situation to the driver, he pointed to a small sign near his seat displaying a virtual account number. I transferred the fare to that account using my phone and showed him the confirmation screen. Only then was I allowed to board. It was a bit frustrating and an embarrassing experience. For me, this episode was more than just a minor annoyance. It was a glimpse into the approaching “cashless society.” Everywhere we look, examples abound: mobile payments at convenience stores, QR codes at restaurants, digital wallets for taxis and even vending machines that no longer accept coins. There are pros and cons to a cashless society. It usually offers clear advantages, such as usefulness, faster transactions and reduced possibilities of theft. Digital payments also improve transparency and make legally justified financial tracking effective. However, people witho