Cyberattacks making cash more advantageous
Although governments and banks have pushed hard toward cashless payments, experts warn that cash still plays a crucial role in times of crisis. Rising cyber threats and recent disruptions, such as Spain’s April 2025 blackout and Estonia’s 2022 banking cyberattack, showed how quickly digital systems can collapse, leaving people unable to pay for essentials. Bank leaders now advise households to keep an emergency reserve of €200–500 (approx. PLN 800–2000), enough to cover basic needs for a week without digital access.
While regulators work to strengthen cybersecurity, experts stress that risks will always remain. In an era of growing digitalization, maintaining a small cash reserve offers a vital safeguard against systemic failures.
