Perspectives

This book argues that identity and money are both changing profoundly. Because of technological change the two trends are converging so that all that we need for transacting will be our identities captured in the unique record of our online social contacts. Social networks and mobile phones are the key technologies. They will enable the building of an identity infrastructure that can enhance both privacy and security - there is no trade-off. The long-term consequences of these changes are impossible to predict, partly because how they take shape will depend on how companies take advantage of business opportunities to deliver transaction services. But one prediction made here is that cash will soon be redundant - and a good thing too. In its place we will see a proliferation of new digital currencies. "If you're anything like me, by the time you've finished reading the book you'll be wondering not just why we're still exchanging copper, zinc and nickel coins with each other, but whether the days when a country can hold a monopoly over currency are coming to an end." From the Foreword by Ed Conway, Economics Editor, Sky News "Dave Birch gives one of the best accounts available today of how we'll navigate the challenges of the emerging payments landscape, and how traditional data points on identity don't really make sense in a digital world. An outstanding piece of work which may well define our journey moving forward." Brett King, Founder and CEO of Moven.com, and author of BANK 3.0 "Dave Birch's thoughts on digital identity were seminal to the UK's Identity Assurance Scheme. Anyone entering the field of digital identity should take this book with them." David Rennie, Identity Assurance Programme, Government Digital Service, Cabinet Office David G.W. Birch is a director of Consult Hyperion, an IT management consultancy that specializes in electronic transactions. Described by The Telegraph as 'one of the world's leading experts on digital money', by The Independent as a grade-A geek', by the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation as 'one of the most user-friendly of the UK's uber-techies' and by Financial World as 'mad', Dave is a member of the editorial board of the E-Finance & Payments Law and Policy Journal, a columnist for SPEED and well known for his blogs on digital money and digital identity. He is a media commentator on electronic business issues (having appeared on BBC television and radio, Sky and other channels around the world) and has been named by WIRED magazine as one of their global top 15 favourite sources of business and finance information.