Anonymous cryptocurrencies then? I see that would be more complicated...<p>But still technical anonymity sounds like a weak justification for technical obsolescence. For cash, credit card systems on retail don&#x27;t even get your name... I think it could be arranged online even with traditional systems. Specially if it was a national demand, this is the kind of thing you can force companies to do with laws (or they would develop themselves).<p>I think a more obvious explanation would be related to their insularity -- they are probably the least integrated developed country (due to geographical, linguistic and cultural reasons). Some of those technologies by themselves aren&#x27;t really that significant for personal productivity (I think that can be another factor), but combined they make a big difference I think.