In Revelation 13:17, it is stipulated that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark, the name of the beast, or the number of his name. This mark, enforced by the false prophet, allows individuals under the Beast's jurisdiction to transact business, potentially as basic as buying or selling food. Lacking this mark closes all avenues for making a living or purchasing life's necessities. In contrast, Proverbs 23:23 instructs to buy the truth and not sell it, along with wisdom, instruction, and understanding. This principle emphasizes the priceless value of God's truth, urging believers to pay any price necessary to gain it and to give it freely without charge. Similarly, in Isaiah 55:1-3, God invites everyone who thirsts to come and buy without money, highlighting that His truths cannot be bought with currency but are given freely to those who listen and respond. This transaction between God and those He calls fosters a relationship and an everlasting covenant with Him. The adversary, satan, despises this divine transaction and seeks to prevent it, as he has since the beginning. The Mark of the Beast may represent his attempt to hinder the preaching of God's word, restricting the church's ability to engage in this spiritual exchange. Without the mark, no one will be able to conduct the business of religion unless they conform to the state religion and gain the approval of the Beast and his false prophet. Yet, even now, the freedom remains to preach God's word and engage in this sacred transaction, a blessing to be cherished amidst diminishing freedoms in the world.

Stories often emerge about technology that could enable the Beast to number and track every individual on earth, suggesting that a number or bar code might be imprinted on foreheads or hands to control buying and selling. Recent reports focus on implantable microchips storing vital personal information, though no evidence confirms these as part of a global conspiracy. Receiving the Beast's number, name, or mark relates to pledging allegiance to the government led by an evil dictator and its associated false religion. The Beast's system, influenced by satan the devil, will counterfeit God's way, likely enforcing a day of worship as its mark, distinct from the true Sabbath.

PayPal's recent announcement to allow subscribers to buy, hold, and sell cryptocurrency directly from their accounts marks a significant step toward widespread cryptocurrency adoption. With approximately 350 million individual accounts and 26 million merchant accounts, PayPal processed about a quarter of a trillion dollars in payments last quarter. Users can now pay for goods, like a latte, using bitcoin or other approved cryptocurrencies, with PayPal converting the digital currency into the retailer's preferred currency, such as USD, in real time. Digital currencies are gaining momentum as a transparent alternative for storing wealth, where the total number of coins, their issuance, and ownership are fully visible, unlike traditional currencies or commodities like dollars and gold. Cryptocurrency adoption is expanding rapidly, alongside increasing government regulation. Bitcoin is already taxed per IRS guidelines for those who disclose it, though the government is poised to eventually claim its share of private crypto coins, much like with once-hidden offshore accounts. Governments are also developing their own central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), with the digital Bermuda currency sand dollar recently launched as the world's first CBDC. Federal Reserve Chairman Powell emphasized a cautious approach to a U.S. CBDC, prioritizing accuracy over speed. Governments view the blockchain technology behind cryptocurrencies as offering complete transparency, making transactions fully digital, traceable, and controllable, allowing them to calculate back taxes and penalties even years later. The move toward a cashless society has accelerated, especially with COVID-19 prompting a WHO endorsement of cashless transactions to avoid spreading germs through physical money. Between March and April this year, cashless U.S. retailers using Square technology increased by 23%, while social distancing drove more people to online cashless transactions and deliveries. Governments will likely position further regulation as necessary to prevent money laundering, manipulation, volatility, and crimes like Ponzi schemes, which have affected cryptocurrencies, ultimately ending the anonymity that many find appealing in independent digital currencies.