Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Cash" in English language version.
Reasons for the paradox observed globally before the pandemic were that while transaction demand for banknotes has been negatively affected by the increase in cashless payments, non-transaction demand for banknotes has increased reflecting low interest rates and precautionary demand.
If the power supply is cut it is no longer possible to make electronic payments. For reasons based purely in preparedness, we need notes and coins that work without electricity.
Many digital payments can be tracked, potentially assisting an authoritarian crackdown.
