Banque de France Warns: Cash is Key for National Security

By Frane Maroevic, Director General, International Currency Association

Our world is shaken by increasingly frequent natural and man-made disasters. Political tensions and conflicts are on the rise. This is, unfortunately, a reality that many countries are now recognising and preparing for.

On June 2, the Banque de France National Committee on Means of Payment (CNMP) issued a stark warning to France: act now, not out of fear, but to build real resilience. Their message couldn’t be clearer: the future of payments must be sovereign, secure, and diversified.

Why the urgency?

Recent events like the massive blackout in Spain and cyclone Chido in Mayotte have exposed just how fragile digital payments can be. When the lights go out or the network goes down, cards and apps are useless. In every case, cash stood alone as the only payment method still working. That’s why the CNMP is backing new ways for people to access cash—like being able to withdraw money directly from shops, even when there’s no bank branch nearby.

There’s also a strong reminder for merchants: cash is legal tender. Refusing cash isn’t just inconvenient for customers—it’s illegal. Consumers have the right to report violations, and the authorities are ready to step in and enforce the law.

The message is simple and powerful. A strong, free, and prepared society never relies on just one system. We need multiple ways to keep things moving, no matter what comes our way.

If you wait for a crisis, it will be too late. Keep cash in your pocket, use it often to make sure it’s always there when you need it most.

When everything else stops, cash keeps flowing.

Read more: Payment sovereignty: (re)act now and prepare for the future