Germany is preparing a law that would force all retail shops, cafes and restaurants to accept cashless payments, ending the country's long-standing tolerance for cash-only businesses. The proposal comes from Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, and its key points are currently being coordinated among government ministries, according to the German outlet Merkur.
The draft law states that businesses should offer digital payment wherever goods and services are paid for directly on the spot, according to the document cited by Merkur.
At present, cash euros are the only legally mandatory means of payment in Germany. Businesses are under no obligation to accept cards, which is why signs reading "Cash only" are still common in many restaurants and small shops across the country.
What the new rule would require
If Klingbeil's proposed changes are adopted, shops and restaurants would be required to always give customers the option of paying digitally, whether by card or smartphone. The plan does not call for a full end to cash, and the option to pay with notes and coins would remain in place.
The German government is expected to approve the bill this year, with the new rules set to take effect from 2027, according to the report.
Klingbeil serves as Germany's finance minister and vice chancellor and co-leads the Social Democratic Party, which sits in the current coalition government.
Cash use already declining
Figures from the Bundesbank, Germany's central bank, show that 55% of all transactions in the country in 2025 were already cashless, made up of 26% debit card payments and 10% mobile payments, while cash accounted for the remaining 45%. The share of digital payments has been steadily rising.
Germany's Finance Ministry believes that mandatory recording of digital transactions would help authorities more effectively combat tax evasion, money laundering and other financial crimes.
Ukraine's own cashless push
The push for mandatory cashless payment is not unique to Germany. In Ukraine, a similar requirement had been due to take effect on 1 January 2026, after the state gave businesses three years to prepare. Some businesses said they were still not ready, citing in part the cost of payment terminals.
On 29 December, Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers decided to postpone that requirement until the end of martial law.
Separately, the state postal operator Ukrposhta introduced cashless payment in all localities across Ukraine from 1 May 2026, allowing customers to pay for its services by card or smartphone. Minibuses in Kyiv will continue operating without payment validators until the end of martial law, after which their introduction is planned to take place over nine months.
