Norway, in a quiet and surprising move, is now mandating businesses accept cash payments in a purported move to support its elder population.

Norway had been one of the leading nations trailblazing the move to a totally cashless and biometric society. The WinePress has noted in several reports:

Reported by Eassnews.com, starting on October 1st all businesses were mandated to accept cash payments from customers as long as the total does not exceed 20,000 kroner (about $1,850), but excludes medical offices and public transportation.

The outlet added:

“Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl admitted in an interview with TV2 that not all citizens use digital forms of payment. According to recent studies, as many as 600,000 Norwegians consciously avoid electronic payment solutions, which is over 10 percent of the country’s population, with a predominance of seniors.

“She also added that maintaining cash prepares Norway for potential failures of electronic payment systems – both caused by technical issues and interference from special services from other countries or hacker groups. In such situations, cash, according to Enger Mehl, is the safest solution,” the publication reported.

There are those criticizing the move. Regnskap Norge, the largest Norwegian chamber of commerce for accounting specialists, said in a written statement the new regulations are “a gift for criminals.”

Chamber CEO Rune Aale-Hansen claims criminals are the most willingly to use cash. He also argued that according to his institution’s numbers, “the complete abandonment of cash could reduce the cost of doing business in Norway by over 10 billion kroner (about $925 million).”

Norwegian media has indicated that even though the value of the krone has continued to slide, authorities such as Mehl still believe having cash on hand is a necessity.

“Relying entirely on digital payment systems increases vulnerability, and in some situations can harm important public functions. If no one pays with cash and no one accepts cash, our cash will no longer be part of preparedness in a crisis,” Mehl said earlier this year.

Nevertheless, NewsinEnglish.no wrote in April:

“Increasing numbers of shops, restaurants, cinemas and other retailers in Norway refuse to accept cash, but that’s actually a violation of Norwegian law covering financial transactions. There’s also been a noticeable reduction of automated teller machines (ATMs or minibanks as they’re called in Norwegian) in Norway, and those remaining in the Oslo area recently began charging a 10-krone fee per transaction. Actual bank branches where customers can withdraw cash from their accounts have all but disappeared in many Norwegian cities.”


AUTHOR COMMENTARY

Proverbs 25:25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

This is good news for a change. The move towards to complete digitalization – biometrics, digital IDs, CBDCs and tokenization – may still be transpiring, but at least there are those that trying to stave it off for as long as they can.

We must continue to fight the system as best as we can; even if the rest of the sheeple do not listen and get the message does not mean we have to. Trust the Lord, live by faith, and stick to your guns.

Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.


[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

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