A Chinese man from southern China has attracted widespread attention after revealing that he extracted 191.73 grams of gold worth more than 210,000 yuan, approximately 30,000 US dollars, from discarded SIM cards and other electronic waste. The man, who is based in Guangdong province and runs an online account under the name “Qiao the Hakka Gold Refiner,” shared a video demonstrating his gold recovery process, which quickly went viral on Chinese social media platforms.
The video sparked surprise and curiosity among viewers, with many joking that collecting electronic scrap could be more profitable than traditional jobs. Several users expressed shock upon learning that SIM cards and similar items contain traces of gold. In response to the growing attention, the man clarified that the recovered gold did not come solely from SIM cards but was extracted by processing nearly two tonnes of electronic waste.
Manufacturers apply extremely thin layers of gold to contact pins and circuit connections in SIM cards, bank cards, identity cards, and other electronic components to improve conductivity and prevent corrosion. While this makes recycling valuable, experts have cautioned that the extraction process involves highly corrosive chemicals that can pose serious safety risks and cause environmental damage if not handled properly.
The content creator emphasized that his intention was educational rather than sensational, aiming to raise awareness about the recycling potential of electronic waste and the hidden value found in discarded technology.
