The importance of cash to personal autonomy, social inclusion and economic stability remains high, despite use declining in many countries. Recognising this value, nations worldwide are introducing legislation to ensure physical money remains accessible to and usable by anyone, anytime.
The map below is a snapshot of legislative status and intensity of cash use, captured in October 2024. Red pins show places where new laws—either governing access to or acceptance of cash—is (or was) under consideration by national authorities. One large pin in the United States represents a bipartisan bill that would require brick and mortar businesses nationwide to accept cash. Other pins show the legislative situation in individual states and major cities.
Purple pins show places where laws exist around the right to access cash. One example is the United Kingdom, where rules came into effect on 18 September 2024 holding banks and building societies accountable for ensuring fair access to cash.
Blue pins show places where the right to pay using cash is enshrined in law. Typically, this only covers physical businesses, and sometimes includes other restrictions, such as a transaction being below a given amount. Non-compliant businesses are often subjected to fines levied by central banks or finance authorities, with the People's Bank of China being one example, handing out fines to KFC and several state-owned entities, among others, in August 2024.
