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A Cashless, High-Value, Anonymous Currency: How?
jfruh writes "The cashless future is one of those concepts that always seems to be just around the corner, but never quite gets here. There's been a lot of hype around Sweden going almost cashless, but most transactions there use easily traceable credit and debit cards. Bitcoin offers anonymity, but isn't backed by any government and has seen high-profile hacks and collapses in value. Could an experiment called MintChip brewing in Canada finally take us to cashless nirvana?"
What other need is there for anonymous currency other than to commit crimes (including tax avoidance)?
I suggest that a civilized society has no need for what you ask for. Like it or not, we have chosen to have governments, taxation and regulation. You'd better get used to it because it is here to stay.
No responsible government would allow this to happen on their watch. Why would I want to take away one of the best tools law enforcement has for dealing with organized crime, arms trafficking, and other socially dangerous activities? These things are real, and they really get people killed. A financial system which can be used to track such things down is a social good, and should not be undermined. Bitcoin and similar are money laundering schemes, and can and should be stamped out.
Bullshit.