Privacy is not a niche feature of money; it’s part of what makes money work. People don’t want every transaction, balance, and financial relationship exposed. Cash has this property. And historically, intermediated (bank-based) financial systems have preserved a level of practical confidentiality. They limit third-party access to financial records, though information can still be exposed. Even law enforcement generally requires a court order to access personal financial data. Technological and social change can put pressure on these systems, often triggering public debate about financial privacy and new methods to ... (full story)