A story I've told a number of times about us young programmers talking together in the 90's; we could see the power of computers and wondered where it might lead (more honestly, how we could pull it off ourselves if we were in charge), if it could be the last piece of control required for a global government that would descend into evil with no possibility of a check or balance beyond God Himself.
And the answer is, yes, as we counted the measures we could take with the obvious trajectory of the power of computers to control the world. However, as fast as we thought this could be implemented, we didn't even fathom the new technologies that make it simpler, and thus faster, to carry out. One of these was the form of digital currency that is being proposed. We already had in the 90's electronic currency between the Fed and banks, and we thought this would be enough to control everyone's transactions. However, there is still a lot of room around the edges for black markets, even if an electronic certificate locked to a person were enforced. But with the digital currency proposed today, even the edges will not be large enough for a population of a size that matters to escape.
Is this the mark of the beast? As the tool it is, sure. Does it change our lives much? Not really. Just because we can see a little clearer than we used to, what was clear to God thousands of years ago, should only lead us to nod in agreement that God knows what He is talking about, and giving us further understanding why the rapture makes sense. Note that it isn't the mark of the beast yet since when that happens, it will be clear what is being asked of those that take it - who one must worship isn't a part of the digital money control yet. When will that happen? Who knows? I don't even think the Father is sure exactly when mankind will pull it off. But He'll be ready when it happens. It might be that technologically we get knocked back so far that it will take 100 years to recover. It might be that people just won't stand for it and it won't work for 500 years. It might be attempted in the next 10 years.
It is much more pleasing to God that we worship Him in spirit and truth, working within God's Word to manifest His love in everything we do in our daily lives. Worrying about how the time of the gentiles will be fulfilled isn't a big part of that when we no l longer have to waste our time speculating on what tools the beast will use.