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Cards remain the dominant form of non-cash payment globally. They offer fraud protection, rewards points, and convenience. The difference is crucial:

Before the invention of money, humans relied on the barter system—exchanging a cow for grain or tools. However, barter suffered from the "double coincidence of wants" problem (you had to find someone who wanted what you had and had what you wanted). This inefficiency led to the first payment methods: commodity money. payment

Over 130 countries are exploring digital fiat currencies. Unlike crypto, CBDCs are state-backed and programmable (e.g., digital yuan, digital euro pilot). Cards remain the dominant form of non-cash payment