Today, technological developments enable individuals to conduct transactions through digital payment channels instead of using cash (banknotes). With the widespread adoption of digital payment systems, economic actors are increasingly able to carry out transactions more easily and securely in digital environments, giving rise to the perception of a cashless society. A cashless society refers to a new-generation economic structure in which digital payment methods—such as digital wallets, contactless payments, mobile banking, and electronic money—are used instead of banknotes.

The digital payment systems adopted within this structure contribute to numerous areas, including the development of the banking sector, the enhancement of economic information, the reduction of informal activities by securing tax collection processes, and ultimately the strengthening of economic development. Accordingly, the primary aim of this study is to examine the concept of a cashless society from a theoretical perspective. The analysis addresses the economic, social, technological, societal, and psychological dimensions of the cashless society.

In this context, the study first discusses the evolution of money and payment systems in the process of digitalization and introduces the development of digital payment systems and the payment instruments used in this process. Subsequently, while elaborating on the economic and sociological dimensions of cashlessness, the study emphasizes that the cashless society should be reconsidered not merely as a technological transformation, but as a multidimensional phenomenon involving economic justice, social equality, and individual freedoms.

The positive economic aspects of the transition to a cashless society include the facilitation of monitoring the informal economy, reduced transaction costs, and increased effectiveness of monetary policy. Conversely, its negative effects are considered to involve deficiencies related to technological infrastructure, the risk of cyberattacks, and excessive consumption driven by the convenience of financial systems. From a social perspective, the study examines how psychological and technological inadequacies may prevent certain groups from adequately recognizing and benefiting from the ease provided by digital payment instruments. In particular, individuals with low levels of financial literacy, limited internet access, and elderly populations may be unable to fully utilize cashless payment systems.

The study aims to demonstrate that the cashless society represents not only a financial transformation but also a comprehensive shift affecting economic behaviors, social relations, and state policies. The research is entirely theoretical in nature and proceeds through the literature and conceptual foundations rather than empirical or applied analyses.