What To Know
- In late 2025, official gold buying surged at its fastest pace of the year, even as bitcoin began emerging as a credible competitor in sovereign reserve portfolios.
- By October alone, central banks purchased a net 53 tonnes of gold, marking a 36 percent jump from the previous month and pushing 2025 into one of the strongest accumulation years in decades.
International Business News: Global Reserve Strategies Shift Rapidly
Central banks around the world are accelerating their push into alternative reserves as economic uncertainty deepens and geopolitical tensions escalate. In late 2025, official gold buying surged at its fastest pace of the year, even as bitcoin began emerging as a credible competitor in sovereign reserve portfolios. By October alone, central banks purchased a net 53 tonnes of gold, marking a 36 percent jump from the previous month and pushing 2025 into one of the strongest accumulation years in decades. This International Business News report highlights how these moves signal a profound shift in global financial strategy.
Global powers race to secure gold and bitcoin as new era of reserve diversification unfolds
Image Credit: StockShots
The buying spree reflects not only fears over long-term economic stability but also a growing desire among governments to reduce reliance on traditional reserve currencies. Poland led the gold accumulation charge, adding 16 tonnes in October and pushing its total holdings to a record 531 tonnes—now making up roughly 26 percent of its entire foreign reserve base. Brazil matched Poland’s 16-tonne increase, while Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Turkey, the Czech Republic and the Kyrgyz Republic also expanded their holdings. Even with record-high gold prices, demand remains extraordinarily strong, underscoring the metal’s continued strategic relevance.
US Bitcoin Reserve Signals a New Era
While gold remains dominant, the United States has opened a new chapter by formally designating bitcoin as a national reserve asset. This follows President Donald Trump’s executive order authorizing the Treasury to manage nearly 200,000 seized bitcoins—valued at roughly US$17 billion—under a budget-neutral Strategic Bitcoin Reserve framework. Lawmakers are now pushing for oversight, requiring reporting on custody standards and the use of AI tools for sanctions enforcement.
Analysts say the implications are huge. Economic modelling suggests that if the US accumulated one million bitcoins by 2029, it could offset as much as 18 percent of national public debt by 2049. Others argue the move strengthens American technological leadership, while critics warn that widespread sovereign bitcoin accumulation may trigger market volatility.
Countries and States Join the Digital Reserve Race
Momentum is spreading. Texas recently became the first US state to purchase bitcoin for its treasury, allocating US$10 million through BlackRock’s spot bitcoin ETF. In Taiwan, lawmakers are urging the government to diversify its reserves—over 90 percent of which remain in US-dollar assets—by exploring bitcoin as a buffer against concentration risk. Deutsche Bank analysts expect bitcoin to sit alongside gold on central bank balance sheets by 2030, marking the beginning of a long-term transformation in global reserve strategy.
A New Global Financial Landscape Emerges
The accelerating dual accumulation of gold and bitcoin suggests the world is entering an unprecedented phase of reserve diversification. As governments hedge against inflation, currency instability and geopolitical shocks, this multi-asset approach could redefine global financial security for decades. The combined shifts in both traditional and digital holdings indicate a new international monetary order taking shape, one that may permanently alter how nations protect economic sovereignty and manage long-term risk.
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