How to prepare for the end of card payments

PLUS: What the Hell Happened to FTX?, and more [View this email in your browser]( | [Manage newsletter subscriptions](newsletter=wir) [11.09.22](   [Deflated pink balloon surrounded by inflated purple balloons on a pale yellow background]( [CRUNCH TIME | 4-MINUTE READ]( [What the Hell Happened to FTX?]( BY JOEL KHALILI [The collapse of crypto exchange FTX opens opportunities for rival exchange Binance—and raises questions about the sector’s sustainability.](   [Dark illustration at night with a moped, a person leaning on a sports car, and another person leaning on a railing in front of a building with three 7's on the windows]( [TRUE CYBERCRIME | 18-MINUTE READ]( [The Hunt for the Dark Web’s Biggest Kingpin, Part 3: Alpha Male]( BY ANDY GREENBERG [As authorities discover their target’s online alter ego as a boastful womanizer, their operation takes on a double life of its own—and a bold new ambition.](   [person sitting on a couch pinching top of nose and holding tissue]( ['TIS THE SEASON | 5-MINUTE READ]( [Brace Yourself for a Triple Wave of Seasonal Viruses]( BY SABRINA WEISS [Many people haven’t been exposed to common respiratory viruses following the pandemic, meaning they might be more vulnerable to getting ill this year.](   [A person's hand making a wireless payment using a smart phone in a yellow credit card POS terminal on yellow and purple background.]( [TAPPED IN | 2-MINUTE READ]( [How to Prepare for the End of Card Payments]( BY REECE ROGERS [Cash is safe—for now. Contactless payment methods, like Apple Pay or Google Wallet, are more of a threat to the existence of physical cards.]( [GET WIRED]( [Get 1 year of WIRED for less than $1 per month. That includes Steven Levy's exclusive newsletter and a free tote!]([Subscribe now.](   [Potted plants underneath a pink grow light, indoors.]( [GREEN THUMB | 6-MINUTE READ]( [Our Favorite Gadgets for Plant Parents]( BY KAREN HUGG [You don’t need a degree in horticulture to help your indoor garden grow, just a few key pieces of gear.](   [Elon Musk sitting and holding a microphone on stage at an event.]( [DIGITAL CULTURE | 2-MINUTE READ]( [Elon Musk Wants Comedy on Twitter, but He Can’t Take a Joke]( BY ANGELA WATERCUTTER [After celebrities adopted his profile to protest new rules, Musk threatened to permanently suspend anyone impersonating a user without a "parody" label.](   [Hand holding a digital Chinese yuan e-CNY payment card]( [MONEY TALKS | 5-MINUTE READ]( [China’s Digital Yuan Works Just Like Cash—With Added Surveillance]( BY JENNIFER CONRAD [Government officials are urging citizens to adopt the official digital currency in a bid to gain more control over the economy.](   [ROCCAT Sova Gaming Lapboard with keyboard and mouse attached]( [MULTIFUNCTIONAL | 4-MINUTE READ]( [A Lapboard Solves All Your Gaming Problems]( BY ADRIENNE SO [You want to clickety-shoot lots of bots? While hanging out with your loved ones? On your nice, big TV? And drinking a beer? I got you.](   [people taking a coupon book as they enter a department store ]( [PLAN YOUR DAY | 6-MINUTE READ]( [Black Friday Will Be Confusing (Again). Here Are Our Tips]( BY LOURYN STRAMPE [The biggest retail event of the year has grown into an entire month of sales that ebb and flow. Here’s how to make the most of it.](   Looking for a new job? Check out these featured listings and search for openings all over the world on [jobs.wired.com](. [Staff Engineer, Places]( [Foursquare]( Location: Chicago, IL, USA [APPLY NOW]( [Sr. Software Engineer]( [Adobe]( [Location: Lehi, UT, USA]( [APPLY NOW]( [(image) WIRED Logo]( [(image) WIRED on Facebook]( [(image) WIRED on Twitter]( [(image) WIRED on Instagram]( [(image) WIRED on LinkedIn]( [(image) WIRED on YouTube]( [Podcasts]( Have questions or comments? [Reply to this email](mailto:hello@wired.com?subject=WIRED%20Newsletter%20Questions,%20Comments%20or%20Feedback). This email was sent to you by WIRED. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our email address, wired@newsletters.wired.com, to your address book. View our [Privacy Policy]( [Unsubscribe]( or [Manage your newsletter subscriptions](newsletter=wir) Copyright © Condé Nast 2022. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.