Geldwäschereibekämpfung bei Barzahlungsgeschäften – Staatliche Sterbehilfe für das Bargeld?

The European Union is currently discussing the abolition of its 500 Euro bill and further general restrictions regarding cash money transactions that foresee to ban all cash transactions above a certain, very low threshold. Although economic and business-driven reasons are more likely to be the true reasons behind such a regulatory project that lacks of necessity due to international standards, politicians and financial market participants claim to see the necessity for such actions based on counter terrorist finance and anti-money laundering measures.

Although Switzerland does not seem to be involved in the current discussion, the Swiss parliament had almost implemented a general prohibition of cash money use above CHF 100 000 in December 2014. Due to heavy opposition in one of the two chambers of the Swiss parliament, a new provision was implemented through the Swiss Anti-money laundering Act, according to which professional traders outside the financial market industry have to…