Setting up a custom economy: shopkeepers vs physical currency?

Starting up a semi-vanilla roleplay server for our community and I'm torn on the economy system. Option A is using a digital currency plugin like EssentialsX with Shopkeepers (NPC shops) at spawn. Option B is doing a physical currency like diamonds/emerald coins, letting players build their own shops using chest-shop plugins. Physical currency feels more immersive, but digital avoids inflation and hoarding. What has worked best for your servers?

Agreed. Digital economies get bloated very fast because there's no natural sink. With a diamond economy, diamonds are consumed for gear, which naturally stabilizes the market supply.