Analysis

December 12, 2019

The startups killing Italy’s cash economy

Italy is still a predominantly cash economy, which presents a challenge to Europe's fintech startups such as Qonto and N26 trying to conquer the market. What's their plan?


Italian shop

Faisan runs a convenience store in the heart of Trastevere, a vibrant medieval district that runs along the banks of the Tiber in Rome. His shelves stock alcohol, snacks, canned fish, at least a dozen permutations of spaghetti. It’s all very convenient. Except for one thing: he only takes cash. 

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V.T.E.P.X, elj pnl
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Ben Munster in Rome

Ben Munster is based in Rome and writes about Italian tech and startups for Sifted. He tweets at @Ben_Munster

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