Chinese Man Extracts Gold Worth Rs 27 Lakh from SIM Cards, Sparks Buying Frenzy

• A man named Qiao in Huizhou, Guangdong province, China, extracted gold worth over 2.7 million rupees from discarded SIM cards and electronic waste.
• His video demonstrating the gold-refining process went viral, garnering over five million views and leading to a surge in demand for used SIM cards on second-hand platforms.
• Qiao clarified that the gold was not solely from SIM cards but from nearly two tonnes of electronic scrap, including telecommunications chip waste.
• He warned against amateur gold extraction due to the dangerous chemical processes involved and strict regulations in China regarding precious metal refining.
• Chinese law classifies electronic waste as hazardous material, and unauthorized refining can lead to severe penalties, including fines and prison.

Why It Matters: A Chinese man's gold extraction from e-waste sparked a SIM card buying frenzy, but he warns of dangers and legal risks.