: While many view cryptocurrency as a rebel alternative, Scott offers a contrarian view, suggesting that crypto often fails to provide the true "bearer instrument" benefits of cash and can sometimes even accelerate the digitization and automation of the financial system. Why This Matters Today
You can find Cloudmoney: Cash, Cards, Crypto, and the War for Our Wallets at several retailers: Cloudmoney - Brett Scottepub
: Scott describes the shift to digital as a form of "corporate seep," where previously direct peer-to-peer relationships are replaced by institutionally mediated ones. This process often excludes the working class and marginalized groups who rely on the universal accessibility of cash. : While many view cryptocurrency as a rebel
In his book Cloudmoney: Cash, Cards, Crypto, and the War for Our Wallets , Brett Scott argues that the move toward a "cashless society" is not a natural evolution of technology, but a deliberate campaign by financial institutions and Big Tech to replace a public good (cash) with a private, surveilled, and extractive digital alternative. He defines "cloudmoney" as the digital money issued by the banking sector that requires the fusion of Big Finance and Big Tech to function, effectively turning every transaction into a data-gathering opportunity for corporations. Key Themes and Insights In his book Cloudmoney: Cash, Cards, Crypto, and
: Unlike cash, which offers a "data black hole" for personal transactions, digital payments create a permanent digital footprint. Scott argues that this data is the ultimate prize for corporations like Google and Meta, who use it to map human habits and beliefs.
AI responses may include mistakes. For financial advice, consult a professional. Learn more In defence of cash: a review of Brett Scott's 'Cloudmoney'