[Snowdog]

I think we are heading towards the end of physical cash, though it'll be a long time going. But it may be that a form of digital cash will replace it (which already exists on the internet) if a universal system can be established.

The anonymity of cash is an important freedom and I'm sure governments around the world would like nothing better than to abolish it, but as has been pointed out, economies depend on small cash purchases as much as bigger card purchases and they won't put those at risk.

I don't think this particular measure has any ulterior motive. The recent upsurge in metal theft - particularly cable theft - is a very real problem, and can have, especially when it's from railways, dire consequences, so I can understand the desire to address it. Whether this measure will have any real effect, though, is another matter.