The Cashless Revolution. Cryptos and Virtual Wallets Take the Wheel

CASHLESS IS REAL.

It's 2018. When I was a child, my wildest of imaginations were triggered by sci-fi stories set in the year 2000's. I'm not yet too old, but yeah, during those times lots of the things we have today were just seen in sci-fi movies.

Remember Back to the Future?!

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Like a lot of their "predictions" in the movies are almost happening these days- like these compiled by The Guardian.

Hmmm, did they predict cashless or cryptos?!

I am a person who does not really like to carry cash. If you will look at my wallet, it is actually a business card holder which has: our National ID cards (kids and I), medical insurance cards, my driving license and my debit card. Add to them are some rewards cards from shopping.

Honestly, nowadays, I do not even have to carry most of them apart perhaps from our National IDs which are enhanced with chip that may be required for in branch bank or over the counter telco transactions. The health insurance details are actually linked to the National ID so I can do away without our actual health cards too.

I used to be fascinated by ATMs or credit card transactions

During the late 1990's, these were the "IN" thing. Just swipe your card and you're done. Like "I don't have cash, only plastic" kinda thing.

So when I started working, particularly here in the UAE, I also preferred the cashless way. I chose to deal with banks who issue debit cards. Around 2005, not all banks here in the UAE had debit cards yet. So those who did, were a big thing (for me).

But hey! I don't even need to carry my debit card now!

Beam Wallet

_{Screenshot from my Beam Wallet app}

The Beam Wallet is an mobile wallet app wherein you can easily earn rewards. Just link your card (debit or credit) and start accumulating reward points.

I remember last year, when they had rewards partnership with Mastercard. I'd earn AED 100 rewards for my 500 dirham spent (or something like that- I forgot exactly). The reward value could be used to spend on their merchant parner (you could choose from a lot of great brands). Hey, from those rewards, I was able to buy 2 bags and a pair of shoes from Aldo and I just needed to pay AED10 ($3) extra.

One time I got a notification to "shake" my phone and I got free AED 100 to spend at Tim Hortons!

Nice, eh?!

coins.ph

_{Screenshot from one of my coins.ph transactions.}

Oh, this has replaced my internet banking transactions of late. Earlier, to send money to my family in PH i had to use internet banking. Now, I find coins.ph as the most convenient way to send money to my family.

What's more, when BTC prices are high, It appears like i got an instant refill on my virtual wallet. 😍

Drum roll please... Of course, there's the steemit wallet!

_{From one of my steemit wallet transactions.}

Don't even dare to forget steem wallet! I cannot begin to tell how steemit has changed a lot of things in my (our) life. Because of steemit, it is easier to transfer "money" from one account to another. The one above was for when hubby @kennyroy lost his glasses.

The steemit wallet is a very convenient way of transacting - from purchase, power up and even community or charity engagement.

Here comes Apple Pay and Samsung Pay

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Then there are these apps which you can now download on your smartphones and link to your bank accounts. I have not tried it since I own a Samsung Galaxy note 3 which is too obsolete to be compatible with the Samsung pay app. 😂

Cardless and Cashless Revolution

I would like to believe that the cryptocurrencies are really the money of the future (or now for that matter). It will only be a matter of time when fiat money or bills will no longer find much use in the society.

See, even a 3rd world country like Zimbabwe is cashless!

Watch a Nas Daily episode on this topic here:

_{Credit: Nas Daily}

How about you?! Have you gone cashless yet?

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_{SteemPH banner by @bearone}