Will the government ban cash? fresh digitalisation plans

In Poland and around the world, we see a increasing trend in digitalisation in the financial sector, which changes the way we manage our money. These changes make non-cash payments more comfortable, but questions arise about the future of conventional payment methods specified as cash. In 2025, there was speculation in Poland about plans to limit or completely ban cash, and the government began introducing initiatives to support the improvement of electronic payments. What are these changes and how will they affect citizens?

At the beginning of 2025, the Ministry of Finance and the National Bank of Poland presented fresh proposals related to digitization of the payment system, which may lead to a simplification in the usage of cash in the future. As announced, 1 of the key objectives is to make a full digital economy in which all transactions, both tiny and larger, will only be carried out electronically. specified changes can affect the regular lives of Poles and mean the end of the era of cash in circulation.

The government explains its plans with a increasing request to improve the payment system, as well as the fight against the grey region and taxation avoidance. The introduction of full digitalisation of transactions is intended to let for better monitoring of financial flows, to counter fraud and illegal activities. In addition, digitalisation is intended to contribute to the simplification and simplification of operating costs in financial institutions, which could benefit the full economy in the long term.

Currently there is inactive a large number of cash transactions in Poland. According to NBP data, in 2024 the value of cash turnover in Poland was around PLN 300 billion. Although this figure is gradually decreasing, cash remains a popular form of payment, especially in smaller towns and among the elderly. According to the study of the Polish economical Institute, in 2023 around 40% of Poles preferred cash payments, which is simply a large part of the society.

However, before we proceed to any prohibitions, the government is planning a number of measures to support this transformation. The first step is to gradually increase the number of points where you can pay without cash. Poland is 1 of the leaders in Europe in the area of non-cash payment infrastructure, with a network of over 700 1000 payment terminals (data for 2024). At the same time, educational programs are introduced to convince citizens to usage modern payment methods specified as mobile applications, payment cards or Apple Pay and Google Pay services.

The next step could be to introduce restrictions on cash transactions. Although there are no authoritative announcements about the ban on cash, it is speculated that in the future the State may impose limits on the amount of cash transactions. akin solutions already be in another countries specified as Italy, where the cash transaction limit is EUR 2 000 or Spain, which plans to reduce this limit to EUR 1 000 in 2025. specified government would aim to combat money laundering and taxation avoidance.

These changes may face resistance, especially among the aged and agrarian residents who are not accustomed to utilizing electronic payments. In Poland, about 10% of the population inactive lacks access to the Internet, which may constitute a barrier to the full digitalisation of the payment system. Moreover, there are inactive concerns about the safety of electronic transactions, especially in the context of the increasing number of cybercrimes. In order for digitalisation to be effective, information campaigns and the improvement of services will be essential to guarantee transaction security.

Experts besides stress that a shift towards digitalisation can lead to a simplification of everyday life. Non-cash payments are faster, safer and let better control of expenditure. On the another hand, marketplace analysts point out that the full elimination of cash can positively influence the improvement of the Fintech and blockchain industry, which offer innovative solutions for electronic payments.

However, the government in Poland does not supply for a full ban on having cash, at least for now. Although there is simply a plan to limit cash turnover, there is no way of prohibiting it. Instead, the authorities focused on developing non-cash payment infrastructure and citizens' education in this area.

The transformations in the digitalisation of payments are a subject that will surely inspire excitement in the coming years. On the 1 hand, we have the benefits of greater control over finance and the fight against fraud, on the another hand, the possible risks associated with the availability of these services and the privacy of individual data. What will be the next steps of the government and what decisions will be made in the future, time will tell.