The debate over constitutional protection of cash reflects a broader discussion about freedom, anonymity, and an individual’s right to remain outside digital surveillance. While cashless payments are convenient and efficient, their dominance carries the risk of losing choice, increasing dependence on technology, and expanding state and corporate control over people’s financial transactions. Ensuring a constitutionally protected right to pay in cash should therefore be seen as an essential democratic principle.

Key takeaways:

• Fewer Cash Payments: Cashless transactions continue to rise, and in the Czech Republic most financial operations already take place digitally. Still, only 3% of citizens do not use cash at all.
• A Guarantee of Freedom and Independence: Cash is not only a means of payment but also a symbol of personal freedom and anonymity. Its constitutional protection is now being promoted by the emerging Babiš government, but approval from the Senate will be necessary — and the Senate has not supported the amendment.
• A Balance Between Both Payment Methods: The goal should not be the dominance of one form of payment over the other, but balance and the right to choose. Constitutional protection of cash does not mean rejecting digitalization; on the contrary, Czech law should be expanded to include an obligation to accept contactless payments as well.

Policy Paper – Jan Rovenský

The analysis is in PDF under the link below.