A video circulating on social media platforms by a Chinese refiner known as The Alchemist (Qiao) is being marketed as a gold rush.
The video shows a large quantity of SIM cards being processed to extract a substantial gold bar, leading many to believe that the gold-colored chips on their SIM cards are a significant source of valuable real gold.
A verified X user, @TansuYegen posted the video on March 21, 2026, with the caption:
“He just found out the gold plated chip on your SIM card is actually real gold.”
As at March 22, the post had garnered 7 million views, 24,000 likes and over 6000 bookmarks.
READ: UPDATED: Federal lawmaker amplifies false claim about Nigeria’s gold reserve
CLAIM
The post claims that the gold-colored chip on a standard SIM card is made of real gold and can be refined for significant profit.
FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
While SIM card chips do contain real gold, the scale of extraction required to make a profit is far beyond the reach of the average person, and the process is highly dangerous.
READ ALSO: Are SIM cards made in Nigeria?
A reverse image search conducted by The FactCheckHub traced the circulating video to Qiao, a refiner. Qiao did, indeed, extract 191 grams of gold valued at approximately $28,000.
However, in follow up interviews with the South China Morning Post (SCMP) and other local outlets in February 2026, Qiao clarified that this yield came from processing nearly two tonnes of high-grade electronic waste, not just a handful of SIM cards.
Technically, gold is used in SIM cards because it is a superior conductor that does not corrode. However, a quote on City News Service stated that a single modern nano-SIM card contains only about 0.02 milligrams of gold. To collect just one gram of gold, an individual would need to professionally process approximately 50,000 SIM cards.
Furthermore, the extraction process involves the use of Aqua Regia, a highly corrosive mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid. Experts warn that this process releases toxic gases and poses severe health risks if not performed in a controlled, industrial environment with proper safety certifications. For most people, the cost of the chemicals and the labor required to gather tens of thousands of cards far outweighs the microscopic value of the gold recovered.
VERDICT
The claim that the gold colored chips on sim cards fetch profit is MISLEADING. It is true that SIM cards contain real gold for technical reasons, but the amount per card is microscopic.
Seasoned writer and literary curator, Zainab Abdulrasaq is a factchecker for The FactCheckHub in an effort to combat information disorder. She can be reached on IG @blackbookishgirl or zabdulrasaq@icirnigeria.org
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