Late last Friday night, I received a call from an old friend in Europe, and the tone was alarmingly urgent: "Quick, go to the bank and take out some cash!"

It was only after hanging up the phone that I realized - the German government had just issued an unusual announcement, advising the public to prepare emergency cash at home. Following that, the governments of Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, and Japan also issued similar reminders.

Why have these several rich developed countries suddenly collectively set their sights on cash, this "antique"?

We who are accustomed to scanning codes with our phones may overlook one fact: digital payment systems are much more fragile than we imagine. Assessment reports in the hands of governments around the world show that a single power grid failure or cyber attack can bring the entire payment system to a standstill.

Think about these images —
The convenience store cash register cannot swipe cards, and the ATM screen is completely black.
The phone has no signal, and the wallet app has become a decoration.
The hospital emergency department only accepts cash, but you can't take out a single cent.

Sounds like a sci-fi movie? But this is exactly the scenario that emergency departments in various countries are preparing for.

The advantages of cash suddenly became very real:
√ Does not consume network and electricity
√ No matter how skilled hackers are, they cannot attack paper money.
√ The transaction is completed instantly, with no delay.

The statement from the German Ministry of Finance that "families should keep enough cash for a few days" essentially serves as a reminder: don't stake your life and fortune entirely on digital systems.

Cash is not a perfect solution either.

Having cash piled up at home means —
The yield is zero, and inflation erodes purchasing power year after year.
Bear the risk of theft and robbery by yourself.
Completely insulated from the growth opportunities of modern finance.

So the question arises: Is there an asset that can not only save your life in the event of a system collapse but also won't depreciate while sitting in a drawer?