Backend Costs
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A Woman’s Decade-Long Coin Hoard: 300,000 Coins, Two Tons of Weight Spark Online Frenzy as Banks Struggle with Massive Collection
A湖北 businesswoman deposited 200,000 yuan in coins saved over a decade, exposing storage and handling challenges for banks amid China’s digital payment dominance. The 181kg coin load required 10 trips and six hours of manual sorting at Bank of China, highlighting disproportionate backend costs – 200 yuan/hour for specialized equipment despite coins representing 8% of cash circulation. Experts note sectoral divides: retail/hospitality businesses maintain 300% higher coin reserves than digital-reliant firms, with SMEs valuing coin liquidity continuity during electronic payment disruptions. The incident sparked viral debate (870K+ mentions) over practicality versus economic foresight, underscoring enduring infrastructural tensions between physical/digital currency systems.
