6. Conclusions
This paper discusses the S-curve trajectories of electronic money innovations in today's payment system. The analyses have shown parallel S-curve trajectories of electronic money innovations signifying a move from a cash-based economy towards a less cash society. The analyses of the payment systems have shown an evolutionary path on the development of ATM/cash cards, credit cards, electronic fund transfer at the point-of-sale (EFTPOS)/debit cards and smart cards. Concerning the latest development of electronic money or digital money of Bitcoin, the swing of S-curves does not seemto be strong enough to cause a paradigm shift due to major problems of not being backed by the government and insecure infrastructure (the third factor of not achieving prevailing use in a large number of products or processes according to the theory of techno-economic paradigm shifts by Freeman & Perez, 1988). Therefore, a cashless society seems unlikely in the near future.
