Odd Lots · Monday, September 7, 2026
Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway discussed the 'paradox of banknotes,' where despite declining public use of cash, the supply of physical currency, particularly high-denomination bills like the $100 bill, continues to increase. Oliver Bullough noted that the total value of US dollars in circulation is nearly $2.5 trillion, with a significant portion held outside the US, serving as a store of value rather than a medium of exchange.
“It is this very strange phenomenon whereby cash is an analog technology like videotapes or films and cameras that is being out-competed by digital means of payment.”
“The amount of cash in circulation is hitting record highs in the US. It's almost 2.5 trillion US dollars in circulation.”
“And the Fed reckons sort of something like 65%, maybe, of dollar banknotes are outside the United States. But that's just a kind of a way of kicking the problem one step further.”