The truth is that the convenience this offers is indisputable. Making a purchase, paying for a service, sending money to someone or receiving it from another country—it's all done with a couple of clicks. The pandemic accelerated this process, and what was once an option has now become a necessity. Traditional banks had to adapt, and fintech platforms, cryptocurrencies, and an entire digital infrastructure that now drives a large part of the global economy emerged. But behind all this convenience, there's also a side that not everyone stops to analyze, and that's the level of control this gives governments and large corporations over our financial lives.

A few days ago, I was talking to a friend about this topic. He told me that in his business, almost no one pays in cash these days; he receives everything by bank transfer or QR code. Although this makes things easier for him, he feels he's increasingly *"monitored." And he's right. Every digital transaction leaves a trail: people know what we buy, where we buy it, how much we spend, and even what time we do it. If we think about it, physical money—which has always been a symbol of freedom and privacy—is slowly disappearing, and with it, that sense of autonomy that came with having complete control over what one owned.

It's not about rejecting technology, far from it, but about understanding its nuances. In a world where everything is digital, control is not lost with weapons or threats, but with data.

The more digital the economy becomes, the easier it becomes for governments to track every movement, block accounts, or limit access to funds if they deem it necessary. This isn't a conspiracy; it's simply the other side of the coin. We've already seen it in countries where transfers are restricted or assets are frozen remotely. All of this would have been impossible before if money only existed in banknotes.

_Source

Of course, there are enormous benefits. Digitization boosts commerce, fosters financial inclusion, and makes processes faster and more secure. But it also forces us to reflect on the dependency we're building. If one day systems fail, if a platform stops working, or if someone decides to limit what we can do with our digital money, how much real control do we have?

The digital economy is here to stay, that's a fact. The important thing is not to lose sight of the fact that every convenience comes at a price. The future will be increasingly electronic, faster, and more interconnected, but it will also require greater awareness and responsibility on our part. Because, in the end, financial freedom isn't just about having money, but about having control over it, don't you think?

_{Twitter | Instagram | Discord | Youtube | Telegram: @josevas217}

_{Posted using SteemX}