Use Of Cash In Norway To Become A Criminal Offense From 2030

Oslo, Norway — The government confirmed that using cash will become a criminal offense nationwide from 2030, following a long-term transition to digital payments.

The decision follows years of declining cash usage, which already accounts for about 2% of transactions in the country.

However, officials from the Norwegian Government said the policy will improve transparency and reduce financial crime.

Moreover, authorities including Økokrim have repeatedly linked cash circulation to illegal activity and tax evasion.

At the same time, the Storting approved a gradual enforcement plan with clear milestones before 2030.

Therefore, businesses will fully transition to systems such as Vipps, which already dominates everyday payments.

In addition, regulators from Norges Bank will oversee compliance and payment infrastructure updates.

Meanwhile, Norway has long aimed to become a cashless society, with earlier policy discussions targeting 2030 as a realistic milestone.

Consequently, the new law formalizes a shift that has already taken place in practice across most sectors.

As a result, citizens will rely entirely on digital methods, while cash handling will gradually disappear from public life.