There is a phenomenon that many people haven't paid much attention to: cash kept in pockets or wallets, the number itself remains unchanged, but its purchasing power is being slowly eroded each year. Inflation is like an invisible hand, silently diluting the value of your cash.

Digital cash is the same. Its essence remains cash, just transformed from paper money into bytes. According to conventional logic, digital cash should also not generate interest.

But recently, there is a particularly noteworthy new development: starting from January 1, 2026, the balance in digital wallets can actually earn interest. This signal is very clear—the country has explicitly stated for the first time: "Holding pure cash in the long term indeed comes with a cost."

What does this fundamentally change? Let's look at some practical changes.

First is the surge in payment method flexibility. Mobile payments, SIM card payments, offline payments without internet—scenarios that were almost impossible before are now truly feasible. Especially offline payments without internet, which are super convenient for frequent travelers and much more friendly to the elderly and children. Imagine, children can pay with just their phones, no need to carry cash or enter passwords, and parents don't have to worry.

More importantly, the money in wallets has started earning interest. This completely changes people's perception of cash. Putting money in a wallet versus in a bank account is now becoming more similar in effect. Plus, there's no need to worry about security—your digital wallet is protected by national deposit insurance, with a coverage limit of 50,000. Even in case of accidents, full compensation is possible, providing the same level of security as bank deposits.

This new policy fundamentally redefines what constitutes a "safe idle asset."