These examples under Essays feels obnoxiously dystopian; it's just a demo environment of course but I really hope that's not the feature where were heading into, in which every single link/piece of information on the Internet is locked behind payment.

Doomsaying aside, here in Poland nearly everything can be paid with BLIK payments system - whether it's something you purchase on the Internet or small groceries at shop around the corner. You can also withdraw/depo money by ATM or do a small transfer to someone's else phone number

https://www.blik.com/en