Cloudmoney - Brett Scottepub May 2026

In his book Cloudmoney: Cash, Cards, Crypto, and the War for Our Wallets , Brett Scott argues that the move toward a "cashless society" is not a natural evolution of technology, but a deliberate campaign by financial institutions and Big Tech to replace a public good (cash) with a private, surveilled, and extractive digital alternative. He defines "cloudmoney" as the digital money issued by the banking sector that requires the fusion of Big Finance and Big Tech to function, effectively turning every transaction into a data-gathering opportunity for corporations. Key Themes and Insights

: While many view cryptocurrency as a rebel alternative, Scott offers a contrarian view, suggesting that crypto often fails to provide the true "bearer instrument" benefits of cash and can sometimes even accelerate the digitization and automation of the financial system. Why This Matters Today Cloudmoney - Brett Scottepub

: Unlike cash, which offers a "data black hole" for personal transactions, digital payments create a permanent digital footprint. Scott argues that this data is the ultimate prize for corporations like Google and Meta, who use it to map human habits and beliefs. In his book Cloudmoney: Cash, Cards, Crypto, and

: The book uncovers a long-established lobbying infrastructure—including banks, card companies, and international agencies—that wages a "covert war" on physical money. This campaign often uses the banner of "progress" or "financial inclusion" to herd users into digital systems that are easier to monitor and tax. Why This Matters Today : Unlike cash, which