-Gas stations take only cash.
-Suppliers of stuff, take only cash as they are afraid of the consequences of accepting digital payments, and with that I include bank payments (they are afraid they will not be able to withdraw it, or their money could be bailed-in / converted to drachma etc etc).
There is in a sense a fungibility issue with the euro in Greece right now. Digital euros / bank euros "suck" as they are useless to transact. Cash euro is what counts for most people, even companies.
Times like these, you *realize*, not theoretically, but by living it, that you wouldn't trade your crypto for fiat and that crypto is immensely more useful (ie you can actually transact, when with digital cash / banks / cards etc you can't).
The sense of value increases in a way that is unexpected: I wouldn't trade a single BTC even if I was offered >1000 euro in the bank in these conditions. The euros in the bank are useless.
Does this mean that online merchants in Greece are effectively bankrupt?
Doing business online is supposed to save governments money. Making digital money worthless is just another nail in the economic coffin.
All these discussions about Greek debt make me think of issues you hear about pay-day lenders. The interest rates are far lower, but the issues are the same.
Well, "bankrupt" is a heavy term, let's say that they are "uncertain" about whether they can withdraw their money or pay their suppliers.
"Uncertain" in your ability to pay suppliers is one of the legal definitions / words used when looking at businesses that trade while insolvent.
Maybe bankrupt is being a little dramatic. But cash flow is the lifeblood of businesses. Banks being closed for a week or two would give many online merchants brown pants.
This could be one of those moments where digital currencies become realistic options and encourage the path to mainstream.
Masternodes should vote to produce a Greek video for online merchants.
Even casual merchants are going to get brown pants (lol) with the capital controls in place. People can't simply spend like they used to, when there is a short supply* of physical cash and credit card "blockage".
Still the probability for crypto adoption right now remains low, primarily because you have to use your euros to buy cryptos. And those who have euros, need them for buying more essential stuff.
* There are around 40-45bn euros stockpiled in homes, by those who were gradually withdrawing the last years/months, but that's only for something like 10-15% of the population.