While the outlook for our economy remains unclear, so is the future of the pound in our pocket. The term “cashless society” was first coined in the 1990s, but only recently has it started to feel like a reality. The covid-19 pandemic has forced businesses to ditch physical currency for contactless payment, and as more of us shop online and use our smart phones and watches for instant payments, could the sight of a crisp £20 note become a thing of the past?

And what does the advent of digital currencies such as Bitcoin or Facebook’s ‘Libra’ mean for the future of our financial system and the way we buy things? Will we soon be juggling different currencies via our digital wallets?

In the first of our Invested in the Future events, Stephen King, a renowned global economist and bestselling author discusses the economic outlook and how our changing relationship with cash means the future of money has never looked so uncertain.