Employers must follow certain rules when paying wages to their workers. For example, an employer must pay something the worker can at least turn into cash easily. This payment must be good for at least 30 days, and the employer must have enough money or credit to back it up. In general, California has found that to mean that an employer can only pay an employee by cash, check, or automatic deposit.
Recently, some employers have taken the risk of paying employees in cryptocurrency, which probably is not lawful under California law. Also, employers can't pay workers with things like coupons or cards that can only be traded for goods instead of money. This ensures that workers receive real money, which they can use as they need.
If a payment promise is not honored, meaning it cannot be turned into money as promised, this can be used as proof that the employer did not have enough money to pay.
(See Link(s): Labor Code Sections 212)