Sebastian Gießmann was a Fellow at CAIS from April to September 2020, where he focused on researching the history and theory of digital payment. His fellow project has now resulted in the book “The Credit Card Book: History and Theory of Digital Payment,” (Published in German / Original title: „Das Kreditkarten-Buch. Geschichte und Theorie des digitalen Bezahlens“) which he, amongst other things, presented in March 2026 at the Leipzig Book Fair.
In his book, Sebastian Gießmann traces the development of digital payment from the early days of credit cards in North America to current debates about apps, blockchain, and the future of cash. He combines historical and technical perspectives with social questions surrounding consumption, financial surveillance, and social participation, placing an everyday topic within a broader political and cultural context.
The book (ISBN 978-3-86599-604-6) has been published by Kulturverlag Kadmos. A sample chapter is available on the publisher’s website. A video recording of the presentation at the Frankfurt Book Fair last autumn is available on YouTube.
About Sebastian Gießmann
Sebastian Gießmann, born in 1976, is a researcher of cultural and media studies and conducts research and teaching at the University of Siegen. He earned his doctorate at Humboldt University of Berlin and completed his habilitation at the University of Cologne. His research focuses on media theory, praxeology, and network history.