Cashless Society Disproportionately Affects Street Performers and Homeless

The decline of cash payments in Europe is disproportionately impacting street artists, homeless individuals, and some vendors who rely on coins and small bills. In Italy, cash still accounts for 61% of transactions, down from 82% in 2019. Mario Furlan of City Angels reports that homeless people receive fewer donations. Enrica Pati, a waitress in Rome, notes that tips are rare when customers pay by card. Some street vendors now use portable POS terminals or apps like PayPal and Satispay. In 2024, the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) partnered with Banco BPM to install POS in 100 churches for the Jubilee. In China, digital alms via WeChat are standard. New York passed a law in 2020 requiring businesses to accept cash. The digital euro project aims to provide free digital payments to the unbanked.