The dangers of public Wi-Fi networks

Open Wi-Fi networks offer convenience, allowing us to access the Internet in cafés, airports, hotels, and other public places. However, these networks are rarely properly secured and carry numerous security risks that many users need to pay more attention to.

Public Wi-Fi networks are free internet hotspots found in many public places, such as hotels, cafés, airports and shopping centres, and allow you to surf the internet without using your data tariff. But is it safe to connect to these networks?

Although there are some exceptions, it is important to note that, as a general rule, public or open Wi-Fi networks often have weaker security than private Wi-Fi networks such as those we may have at home. The same easy-to-connect characteristics that make them attractive to consumers also make them a magnet for hackers, who can gain access without the restrictions of a properly secured network.

Thus, a hacker connected to one of these networks could set up his or her equipment to get between us and the service provider, gaining access to our information or stealing our data.

Another of the techniques most commonly used by hackers to obtain confidential information from other users is to create a fake Wi-Fi network with the name of the establishment from which the signal is received, to gain access to the device of customers who connect to their network.

How can we protect ourselves?

We may find ourselves in situations where a public, open or not very secure Wi-Fi network will be the only connection available, so it is advisable to take some basic precautions.

• Disable automatic connection. Ensure that your mobile or computer does not automatically connect to public Wi-Fi networks by setting your device to ask for authorisation before connecting to a network.
• Update your device. It is essential to have run all pending updates to your device, whether it is the operating system, browser, or the applications you use. This will close any security gaps that third parties could use.
• Download an antivirus. You probably already use an antivirus on your computer, but it is also advisable to install one on your mobile phone if you use it to connect to open Wi-Fi networks.
• Avoid using banking applications. When connecting to a public Wi-Fi network, it is better to avoid accessing our bank’s application or any other payment application that we may use to make online purchases.
• Use a virtual private network (VPN). Many of these VPN applications are free and offer an encrypted virtual connection between the two data exchange points that will stop cybercriminals from accessing or at least make it more difficult for them to do so.
• Check for SSL certificates. SSL is a standardised technology that encrypts data traffic between two web servers, thus securing the connection. If the letters “HTTPS” appear at the beginning of the address (URL) of a website, this place is protected by an SSL certificate. Therefore, activate the option to always use HTTPS on websites that you visit frequently, or that require your data.

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Quantum computing is no longer science fiction. The great technological powers are investing billions because they know it can transform the global economy. From banking security to logistics, artificial intelligence, or monetary control, quantum computers promise to solve in minutes problems that today would require decades. But who will control this power?

For decades, traditional computers have operated according to the same logic: the binary system. Everything is reduced to bits, which can be 0 or 1. This architecture has made it possible to build everything from the first computers to today’s artificial intelligence systems, but it also has obvious limits.

Some mathematical problems are so complex that, even with the world’s most powerful computers, they would take decades or centuries to solve. This is where quantum computing comes into play, working not with bits, but with qubits. These can exist in two states at once thanks to quantum superposition: like a coin spinning in the air, which is neither heads nor tails, but both things simultaneously.

This property allows quantum computers to explore certain calculations in parallel in a way that is impossible for a classical computer. The consequence is enormous: problems that we currently consider “impossible” could be solved in minutes. And this is not just a technological revolution. It is a change in economic paradigm.

The great threat to the financial system

The first major potential victim of quantum computing could be digital security. The global financial system is based on cryptography: banks, credit cards, international transfers, digital signatures, and cryptocurrencies depend on mathematical systems that today are practically impossible to break because they would require decades of computational calculation.

But a sufficiently advanced quantum computer could reduce that time to minutes. This means that a large part of the world’s financial infrastructure could become obsolete. What today protects bank accounts, personal data, or state reserves could cease to be secure. It is precisely this capacity that is triggering a new global technological race comparable to the nuclear race of the twentieth century.

The United States, China, and the European Union are competing to lead a technology that will transform not only the economy, but also world geopolitics. Quantum computing could alter the global balance of power in the same way that the internet, oil, or the atomic bomb did. Whoever leads quantum technology will have a decisive advantage in the economy of the future.

Quantum computing does not only affect financial security. It can also revolutionize global productivity: optimizing logistics networks, reducing energy costs, accelerating pharmaceutical development, and transforming financial markets. Major investment funds could analyze millions of scenarios simultaneously, insurers could calculate risks with unprecedented precision, and central banks could model crises almost in real time. The risk is clear: that this technology will further amplify global economic inequalities.

Europe wants to avoid falling behind

For years, Europe has exported technological talent while the great digital giants were born in the United States or China. But in quantum computing, the situation is different. The European Commission has increased investment in quantum research with programs such as the “Quantum Flagship”, designed to promote European companies, universities, and research centers. The objective is clear: to avoid absolute technological dependence on the great powers. And it is not only an economic issue, but also one of sovereignty.

In an increasingly digitized world, whoever controls technological infrastructure also controls information, finance, and a large part of political capacity. We have already seen this with the dominance of the dollar and global payment systems. Quantum computing could create an even deeper new dependency. And when it is combined with artificial intelligence, the shift could accelerate exponentially: from personalized medicine to financial prediction, the creation of new materials, or the development of autonomous weapons. The debate is no longer whether this revolution will arrive, but who will control it.

The risk of a new digital extractive capitalism

Every major technological revolution has been accompanied by a concentration of economic power. It happened with the Industrial Revolution, it happened with the internet, and it could happen again with quantum computing. The large technology corporations already accumulate data, computational capacity, and financial resources on an unprecedented scale.

Quantum computing could further reinforce this hegemony. It is a scenario that fits with the logic of modern extractive capitalism: controlling the infrastructure in order to control the economy. In this context, technology ceases to be a neutral tool and becomes a tool of power.

Economic history teaches us that every major technological change redefines the world’s centers of power. The steam engine propelled the British Empire, oil consolidated the United States, and the internet created today’s technology giants. Quantum computing could determine who will lead the global economy over the coming decades, because whoever dominates this technology will have not only an economic advantage, but also a geopolitical one.

A future that has already begun

We are still at the beginning of this revolution. Today’s quantum computers still have important limitations: computational errors are high and their stability is extremely delicate. But development is advancing quickly, much more than most of society perceives.

As happened with the internet in the 1990s, many people still see quantum computing as a distant technology. But major companies and governments are already competing to dominate it. This means that the world’s economic future could begin to be decided right now, inside laboratories that most citizens do not even know exist.

That is why it is essential to understand what is at stake. Quantum computing is not just technology: it is economy, power, and sovereignty. And for the 11Onze community, understanding these changes is a way to protect ourselves, anticipate risks, and make better decisions. Because the future is not written only by those who master technology, but also by those who have the knowledge not to be subjected to it.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world at breakneck speed. Companies, governments and investors are competing to position themselves in what appears to be the new engine of global growth. But behind the technological euphoria, uncomfortable doubts are emerging: are we facing a structural revolution or a new financial bubble? And, above all, what risk does it pose for investors and for the economic system as a whole?

Economic history is clear. Every major innovation has been accompanied by a similar cycle: enthusiasm, massive investment, overvaluation… and correction. It happened with the railway in the 19th century, with technology companies during the “dot-com” bubble of 2000 and, more recently, with sectors such as fossil fuels, where some analysts were already warning of a structural overvaluation of assets. AI does not seem to be an exception.

According to market data, the major technology companies have accounted for a significant share of stock market gains in recent years. Companies with multi-billion valuations that, in many cases, have not yet proven profitable business models associated with AI. The question is inevitable: are we paying for the future… or inflating it?

The narrative that justifies everything

Every bubble needs a story. And AI has a very powerful one. Massive automation, exponential increases in productivity, replacement of jobs and new economic models outline a disruptive future that seems to justify any valuation. But the problem is not the technology, but its translation into financial expectations.

Many companies include the word “AI” in their discourse to attract capital, just as happened with “blockchain” or “crypto” a few years ago. The result is a distortion of the market, where perceived value exceeds —and often far exceeds— real value. This phenomenon fits with a deeper dynamic of the current economic system, where the proximity between financial, political and corporate power can amplify speculative trends and favour certain actors.

The real problem is not that there is a bubble, but that it could affect the entire system. When large investment funds, banks and institutions concentrate capital in the same sector, the risk ceases to be individual and becomes systemic. We already saw this in 2008 with subprime mortgages or with the possible carbon bubble, and with AI the pattern could repeat itself: concentration of investment, dependence on narratives, costly infrastructure and a possible domino effect that, in the event of a correction, could impact global financial markets.

The real economy vs. the speculative economy

There is a growing disconnect between the real economy and financial markets. While wages struggle to maintain purchasing power and the cost of living rises, markets can experience spectacular increases based on future expectations. This divergence is shaping an increasingly evident dual economy.

On the one hand, we find a real economy marked by inflation, high taxes and loss of purchasing power. On the other, a financial economy driven by narratives and excess liquidity, where AI is becoming one of the main engines. But when the distance between the two becomes too great, history teaches us that the adjustment eventually arrives.

This does not mean that AI is not an opportunity. It is, and a very big one. But it is necessary to differentiate between technology and investment: the fact that an innovation transforms the world does not mean that all related companies are good bets. In moments of euphoria, risk management becomes key: diversifying, understanding assets and avoiding following the crowd are basic principles for protecting wealth, especially when growth appears disconnected from fundamentals.

In this context, the role of central banks is decisive. For years they have injected large amounts of liquidity, fuelling investment in risk assets and emerging sectors such as AI. But when conditions change —with interest rate hikes or monetary restrictions— these investments can deflate rapidly. What today seems like a safe bet may tomorrow reveal itself to be a clearly overvalued asset.

Revolution yes, but not at any price

Artificial intelligence is, without doubt, a technological revolution. But that does not make it immune to the classic dynamics of markets. Confusing innovation with secure value is a recurring, and often costly, mistake. The key is not to avoid AI, but to understand it, analyse it and, above all, not be carried away by the dominant narrative.

History does not repeat itself exactly, but it rhymes. And today, the rhyme sounds familiar. When everyone is talking about the same asset, when valuations soar and the narrative outweighs the data, it is time for prudence. AI may be the future, but it may also be the next correction. The difference between winning and losing will not lie in detecting the technology, but in understanding the moment. In an increasingly complex environment, understanding the dynamics of the financial system is key to protecting savings and making well-informed decisions.

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The US Federal Reserve will launch this summer a real-time payments system designed to streamline transactions between bank accounts. This is a development that some critics see as a further step towards a digital dollar to counter cryptocurrencies and eliminate cash.

In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, payment systems are evolving to meet the needs of businesses and consumers who demand access to fast payment services to make transactions more efficient and better control their cash flow. The private sector has been at the forefront of this evolution, but governments also want to play a role.

To meet these needs, the US Federal Reserve plans to introduce a new payment system known as FedNow in July this year. This new instant payment platform is designed to enable secure and efficient payments in real-time, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

This is a great advantage for businesses and consumers, as they will not have to rely on traditional processing times, which can now be several business days. The new system will allow funds to be transferred instantly between participating bank accounts, and as a non-profit governmental organisation, it will be able to offer more competitive prices.

On the other hand, the adoption of FedNow by US banks, corporations and major financial institutions could result in other foreign entities being forced to use the service. This is significant because it could help the dollar, also in digital form, to perpetuate its reign in international cross-border transactions. This is a possibility that cannot be ruled out in the face of increasing de-dollarisation and the announcement of the launch of a new currency by the BRICS group.

A new payment system linked to the digital dollar?

In parallel with the launch of FedNow, the Federal Reserve is considering the possibility of introducing the digital dollar. As other countries have done already, this would involve putting into circulation a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). This proposal has been criticised on the grounds that it could affect the fundamental freedoms of citizens, increasing the ability of governments to track and control the population.

In this regard, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr, questioned the motives behind the possible introduction of the digital dollar and the new FedNow payment system. Specifically, Robert Kennedy Jr stated that the issuance of a digital dollar will serve as a mechanism to control US citizens, just like the FedNow payment system, declaring that “the distinction between FedNow and a CBDC is important from a technical point of view, but not from a civil liberties point of view”.

As a result of these statements that seek to link the two proposals, yet another controversy has been unleashed on social networks, in which content is circulating that claims that the Federal Reserve will launch a central bank digital currency called FedNow this July, which will give more power to the government to ratify financial slavery and political tyranny.

This misinformation has gone viral to the point that the Fed has deemed it necessary to officially deny it, stating that “FedNow is not related to a digital currency. FedNow is a payment service that the Federal Reserve makes available to banks and credit unions to transfer funds. The FedNow service is neither a form of currency nor a step toward the elimination of any form of payment, including cash.”

Additionally, federal officials – including Fed chair Jerome Powell and former vice chair Lael Brainard – noted that a digital dollar could still be years away from becoming a reality, but that FedNow could emerge as a better alternative to a CBDC. Be that as it may, the controversy is served, and is likely to further boost the case for cryptocurrencies as decentralised digital currencies that can be used as a defence against CBDCs or other state-backed monetary alternatives.

11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the super app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!

In recent years, the belief that our poor email management is highly harmful to the environment has spread out. The latest research relativises its impact and points to other digital habits as responsible for a significant part of global warming.

The book ‘How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything’, published in 2010, popularised the idea that emails have a large carbon footprint. Its author estimated that each message, even if it is just to reply “thank you”, generates a minimum of 0.3 grams of CO₂ due to the energy consumption associated with our devices and, above all, with large data centres. And it should be borne in mind that between 150 billion and 300 billion emails are sent daily around the world, although most of them are ‘spam’.

Some recent research relativises this alleged environmental damage of our messages. Apart from freeing up some space on the servers that host them, there is no evidence that it substantially reduces the energy consumption of the digital infrastructure if we avoid our expendable emails and delete unnecessary ones. 

We very rarely switch on a mobile phone or computer just to send an email and both storage and data transmission systems run relentlessly, even when we are not using them, so energy consumption remains fairly stable.

An updated perspective

With the new estimates, it is estimated that heating water in a kettle requires more electricity than sending and storing a thousand e-mails. And deleting that thousand messages from our inbox would have a carbon benefit of about five grams of CO₂, the minimum our computer would generate in half an hour if we kept it on to delete them. Although it may be hard to comprehend, manually deleting emails can have a greater impact on carbon emissions than storing them.

In fact, the first effective measure to limit the carbon footprint of email is to reduce as much as possible the number of electronic devices we buy to manage it and to keep them as long as possible, as their manufacture generates a significant carbon footprint. 

But above all, safeguarding the environment means using energy-efficient devices and rationalising the time we keep them switched on: we should not forget that part of the electricity we use to power these devices comes from fossil fuels.

The source of excessive traffic

Obviously, avoiding unnecessary emails, writing concisely, including hyperlinks to files rather than attachments, limiting the number of recipients, regularly emptying the ‘spam’ folder and unsubscribing from newsletters that do not really interest us are best practices that will reduce Internet traffic. But if we really want to contribute with our digital habits to the good health of the planet, we should look beyond our e-mail. 

Email exchanges account for only 1% of Internet traffic, which is tiny compared to video streaming services, which already account for more than 80% of what goes online. And that is an appreciable amount of tons of CO₂.

If you want to wash your clothes without polluting the planet, 11Onze Recommends Natulim.

The automation of work is creating an occupational metamorphosis, in which tasks usually done by humans are transferred to a set of technologies. Economics is not spared, and artificial intelligence is also gaining ground. But are economic forecasting algorithms a real alternative to economists?

As a result of the digitisation process of the last decades, huge amounts of data are being generated that are transforming the methods by which we analyse statistical models. Storing, registering, and analysing this constant flow of information has become an essential task for many sectors of the economy.

A technological revolution has opened up new possibilities in economic and financial forecasting capabilities. The analysis of these large databases, known as ‘big data’, would not be possible without artificial intelligence (AI). A rather broad term that encompasses a whole range of ideas.

Even so, there are two concepts in this field: machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL), mathematical algorithms that allow computers to identify patterns in data and make predictions by imitating humans. Two computational advances that form the basis of economic forecasting with artificial intelligence.

An algorithmic crystal ball

Experts often compare algorithmic forecasting to “a crystal ball”. Indeed, this metaphor is the title of an internal study published by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), in which the authors of the research, Jin-Kyu Jung, Manasa Patnam and Anna Ter-Martirosyan, try to establish whether macroeconomic forecasting algorithms can improve on the results predicted by IMF economists themselves.

The study applies three different machine learning algorithms to a common economic forecasting problem, and the results are surprising. In all three cases, the algorithmic prediction far surpassed the benchmark performance of IMF economists.

In their observations, the authors warn that there are still factors that require further research. They also state that, for these predictions to be truly effective, real-time observations would have to be included. They explain that there is some freedom in the introduction of the parameters used by the algorithms, and that this may be key to determining their effectiveness.

Even so, in their conclusion they agree on the fact that the potential of machine learning in terms of statistical analysis of economic data is evident; and that, although these predictions made by algorithms cannot fully replace the work of economists, they represent a valuable additional reference when making decisions on economic forecasting.

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Europe could once again be talking about food rationing. This is not an alarmist headline: it is a direct warning from the heart of the financial system. The question is not only whether it will happen, but what this scenario really implies. Above all, what it says about the fragility of the current economic model and our dependence on factors we do not control. And, even more importantly, what consequences it may have for the daily lives of millions of European citizens.

When Christine Lagarde speaks, markets listen. But this time the message goes beyond monetary policy. The President of the European Central Bank has opened the door to extreme measures such as food rationing if geopolitical and energy tensions persist. It is not the central scenario, but nor can it be ruled out in an increasingly volatile context.

To understand the scope of the warning, we need to look at the global context: an economy still wounded by the pandemic, strained by the war in Ukraine and subject to persistent inflation. Now, the focus is shifting towards the Middle East and critical points such as the Strait of Hormuz. If this key route is disrupted, the world could lose up to 13% of its daily oil supply, with an impact that would go far beyond fuel and end up affecting the entire economic chain.

Energy, scarcity and control: the return of an old ghost

Energy is the circulatory system of the economy. When it fails, everything is affected. It is not only a matter of fuel or electricity: it is the root of all productive activity. When energy costs rise, everything that depends on them becomes more expensive, from industry to the most basic services.

More expensive fertilizers. More expensive transport. More expensive production. The result is inevitable: more expensive food. We have already experienced this recently. After COVID and the war in Ukraine, the cost of living soared while wages lagged behind, causing a sustained loss of purchasing power. And that was in a scenario without extreme supply disruptions.

The problem is that this time it could go further. We are not only talking about inflation, but about possible physical interruptions in supply chains. When there are not enough resources for everyone, the logic of the market gives way to the political management of scarcity. And it is at this point that rationing ceases to be a memory of the past and becomes a real option.

CBDCs: the piece that fits too well

In parallel with these warnings, central banks are accelerating the rollout of digital currencies —CBDCs—. On paper, they are presented as a natural evolution of the financial system: more efficient, faster and with lower transaction costs. A logical adaptation to an increasingly digitalized economy.

But this innovation incorporates a differentiating element that cannot be ignored: control. As has been analyzed at 11Onze in several articles, CBDCs allow full traceability of transactions and open the door to mechanisms of direct supervision over citizens. It is not only a new way to pay, but a tool that could redefine the relationship between the State and money.

Unlike cash, these currencies could:

• Limit what you can buy
• Determine where you can spend
• Impose expiry dates on money
• Apply negative interest rates directly
• Block accounts in real time

In other words, a system in which economic policy ceases to be an indirect tool and begins to act in real time on citizens. Decisions are no longer limited to interest rates or taxes, but can directly affect how, when and on what money can be used. A paradigm shift that transforms economic management into a mechanism of immediate control.

Crisis and control: the logic of the system

This combination —systemic crisis and increased control— is not new. The current economic model has been built, to a large extent, on major shocks: wars, financial crises or global emergencies. These are exceptional moments that allow measures to be implemented which, under normal conditions, would generate strong social rejection.

It is what some economists —such as Naomi Klein— define as the “shock doctrine”. When fear and uncertainty dominate, the room for manoeuvre of governments expands. Citizens, seeking stability, accept profound changes that transform the rules of the economic and social game.

In parallel, pressure on the middle classes continues to grow. Inflation not only increases the cost of living, but also silently increases tax revenue, making citizens pay more without any explicit tax increase. The result is a delicate scenario: less purchasing power, a greater tax burden and a growing dependence on public subsidies which, in an environment of programmable digital currency, could also end up conditioning how and on what they can be spent.

And while all this is happening… gold returns to the centre

In a context of growing uncertainty, central banks are strengthening their reserves with this precious metal, recovering a pattern of behaviour that has been repeated throughout history. This is not a casual decision, but a response to mistrust towards a system that is increasingly under strain.

Gold does not depend on any government, it cannot be created out of nothing or easily manipulated. It is tangible, limited and universally accepted. In this sense, it represents almost the antithesis of digital currencies issued by central banks. That is why, as money becomes digitalized, interest in physical assets also grows. In the end, everything comes down to a question of trust.

But the underlying debate is not technological, but political and social. The uncomfortable question is inevitable: what price are we willing to pay for stability? If energy and food crises become entrenched, exceptional measures may cease to be temporary. And what is presented today as an emergency solution may end up defining the rules of the game in the long term.

We have all the ingredients of a perfect storm: geopolitical tensions, energy dependence, structural inflation, high debt and an accelerated digitalization of the monetary system. Understanding this scenario is not alarmism, but rather responsibility. The system is changing rapidly. And only those who understand what is happening will be able to protect their wealth and their economic freedom.

Protecting savings with physical gold has been one of 11Onze’s main contributions to its community and, now, the range of products is being expanded. That is why, in the face of volatility, still-high inflation and the growing crisis of confidence in the banking system, gold is once again strengthening as a safe-haven asset. Discover Gold Seed at Preciosos 11Onze.

You’ve probably heard a lot about tokens lately, especially in connection with cryptocurrencies, the blockchain, and the metaverse. But what exactly are they? What are they for? We are already surrounded by tokens in our daily lives, although we are not sufficiently aware of it. Núria Rambla, executive assistant at 11Onze, gives us all the clues.

‘A token is a token, a symbol, a code. Tokens are objects similar to a currency, but not legal tender,’ Rambla explains. This means that they only have value within the market where it has been established that they will be used and only for the purpose for which they have been created. Tokens have been around for many years and the clearest example is casino or fairground tokens, those plastic coins that can only be used to play slot machines or poker or to ride the witch train or bumper cars.

And what characterises tokens? ‘They have no value, they are issued by institutions or private companies, they are made of low-value materials, they have a control system, and they are secure and cannot be counterfeited,’ says the executive assistant. In the digital world, tokens use the infrastructure of cryptocurrencies, the so-called blockchain, to circulate. We could say, in fact, that a cryptocurrency is a token, although a token is not exactly a cryptocurrency.

‘While a cryptocurrency has its own blockchain, a token always takes advantage of an existing blockchain, so it is cheaper for digital platforms’, argues Rambla.

In the virtual world, tokens have infinite applications: they can serve as security codes that are validated when we enter a website, as redeemable points in video games, as miles flown by airlines… In the world of finance, they are also used in the so-called ‘tokenisations’, that is, to protect our data when we make online payments, through a code that validates the transaction with total security. And in terms of investments, there are ‘security tokens’, i.e. investment securities in ‘tokens’. Want to know more? Just watch the video below!

11Onze is the community fintech of Catalonia. Open an account by downloading the app El Canut for Android or iOS and join the revolution!

Beyond its popularity in the jewellery sector and as a store of value for investors and savers, gold is a precious metal whose physical properties give it a wide range of industrial applications, from electronics to medicine.

Throughout history, gold has been regarded as the ultimate store of value, making it an essential asset for individuals seeking to protect their savings and investors seeking to diversify their portfolios in economic uncertainty.

Its intrinsic value comes from its durability and relative scarcity. However, it is also due to a large and sustained demand from various sectors, from central banks and private investors, who accumulate bullion and coins of this precious metal, to the jewellery industry. Its physical properties also make it highly versatile enough for various industrial applications, for example: 

• Electronics industry. Gold has excellent electrical conductive qualities, as well as very good resistance to corrosion and oxidation. This makes it an ideal metal for use in electronic components, such as connectors, chips and integrated circuits found in computers and mobile phones. It is estimated that around 300 tonnes of gold are used in electronic components every year, and that 7% of the world’s gold is found in such devices.
• Automobiles industry. Apart from being used in electronic components, the automotive industry takes advantage of the excellent quality of gold as thermal insulation to prevent high temperatures from damaging the mechanics of F1 cars and supercars from brands such as McLaren and Koenigsegg.
• Aerospace industry. Just as it is prized in the automotive industry for its thermal protection, and beyond its use in electronic components, the aerospace industry uses gold leaf to coat parts of aircraft engines, satellites, and space capsules to protect them against extreme temperatures and radiation. Gold is also used as a component of aircraft windscreen coatings to help reflect infrared radiation.
• Medicine industry. Because it is non-reactive and non-toxic, gold is used in prostheses and implantable medical devices, such as pacemakers. On the other hand, gold nanoparticles are used in biomedicine in diagnostic techniques for the detection of cancer cells. They are also used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and muscle pain.

If you want to discover the best option to protect your savings, enter Preciosos 11Onze. We will help you buy at the best price the safe-haven asset par excellence: physical gold.

Instant payments, banking apps, digital money. Everything seems convenient. But behind financial technology there are political and power decisions.

Financial technology has integrated into everyday life with surprising speed. We pay with our phones, send money in seconds, contract financial services with two clicks. Everything is more agile, more efficient, more “user-friendly”. But this convenience has a downside that often goes unnoticed: financial technology is not neutral. It has never been.

Every digital infrastructure incorporates a worldview. And, in the case of money, this vision has profound consequences for economic freedom, privacy, and the decision-making power of citizens.

The end of anonymous money

For centuries, money has allowed something fundamental: anonymity. Buying, selling or saving without leaving a trace. Not as a criminal privilege, but as a basic expression of individual freedom.

The total digitalization of the financial system radically changes this paradigm. Electronic payments, cards, banking apps and digital currency projects imply absolute traceability. Every transaction is recorded. Who pays, how much, where and when?

What is regularly presented as efficiency and the fight against fraud also opens the door to an unprecedented level of control. Not only by financial institutions, but also by states. In this context, initiatives such as central bank digital currencies —promoted, among others, by the European Central Bank— generate a legitimate debate: how far does convenience go and where does surveillance begin?

Eliminating cash is not only a technological change. It is a change in the social contract.

When every action leaves a trace

In a fully digitalized system, money ceases to be just a medium of exchange and becomes data… and data has value.

Consumption habits, payment frequency, types of merchants, geographical location. Everything can be analyzed, cross-referenced and exploited. Not necessarily with bad intentions, but with clear incentives: risk control, customer segmentation, profit optimization.

The problem is not only who collects this data, but who decides how it is used. And here the citizen frequently remains in a passive position, with little room for manoeuvre and limited capacity for oversight.

Algorithms that decide for you

Credit granted or denied. Spending limits. Insurance premiums. Financing conditions. More and more financial decisions pass through automated systems.

These algorithms are not objective by definition. They are models designed by humans, trained with historical data and oriented toward maximizing certain outcomes. Often, efficiency and risk reduction for the institution, not necessarily the well-being of the client.

The problem is opacity. When a person decides, it can be questioned, negotiated or appealed. When an algorithm makes it, the answer is usually “does not meet the criteria”. Without clear explanations. Without context. Without a real right to reply.

This creates a new asymmetry of power: systems that decide over people’s economic lives without them understanding how or why.

Automation and dependency

Financial technology promises autonomy, but it can generate dependency. Dependency on platforms, private infrastructures and criteria we do not control.

When everything goes through apps and digital systems, being excluded —by age, knowledge, resources or personal choice— implies real marginalization. Access to money ceases to be universal and becomes conditional.

Moreover, technological concentration in few hands reinforces power dynamics that are difficult to reverse. The system becomes efficient, yes. But also more fragile and less plural.

Technology yes, but with critical thinking

Technology is neither good nor bad in itself. It depends on who designs it, with what incentives and under what rules. Accepting it uncritically is as naive as rejecting it altogether.

The challenge is not to stop innovation, but to govern it. To ensure that financial digitalization respects fundamental rights such as privacy, freedom of decision and universal access. It is necessary to ensure that technology serves citizens, not only the financial system or institutional control.

This requires regulation, transparency and, above all, informed citizens. Without knowledge, there is no capacity to choose. And without the capacity to select, freedom dissolves.

Knowledge as defense

Understanding how digital financial systems work is not a technical issue reserved for experts. It is a tool of personal sovereignty.

Knowing what it means to pay without cash. Understanding how automated decisions are made. Questioning what data we give away and in exchange for what. All this is part of a new essential literacy.

In a world where money is increasingly digital, ignorance is no longer neutral. It plays against you. Understanding financial technology is essential to preserve economic freedom.

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