Gold Gains Favor Among Central Banks Amid Geopolitical Risks

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Global central banks remain highly optimistic about gold’s role in reserve management, according to the 2026 Central Bank Gold Reserves (CBGR) Survey. The survey, conducted between February 5 and May 19, saw its highest participation level, attracting a record 76 responses.

According to the findings of the survey, over 89% of respondents expect total global central bank gold holdings to rise over the next 12 months. The ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, inflation concerns, and diversification trends will continue to strengthen gold’s appeal among monetary authorities, it said.

Nearly 45% of participating central banks anticipate increasing their own gold reserves during the coming year. Most of the remaining respondents expect their holdings to remain unchanged, while only a small proportion foresee a reduction.

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Nearly three-quarters of respondents believe the dollar’s share in global reserves will decline over the next five years, suggesting a gradual shift away from the U.S. dollar. On the contrary, gold is widely expected to gain a larger share of reserve portfolios.

Almost half of the respondents indicated that new gold acquisitions would be financed through domestic purchase programs using local currency, while 38% said they would fund purchases by reallocating existing reserve assets.

The survey also revealed that the Bank of England remained the most preferred vaulting location for 57% of respondents, followed by domestic storage at 49%.