Throughout 2025, gold has showcased exceptional strength in the financial markets, setting new highs an impressive 53 times. This level of performance ranks among the most notable in the metal's history, underscoring a widespread investor appetite and reshaping portfolio strategies globally. The year’s momentum has been clearly evidenced by substantial inflows into exchange-traded funds (ETFs) physically backed by gold, as well as notable reallocations in central bank reserves.
According to data compiled by GoldHub, global inflows into gold ETFs have reached a historical peak of $89 billion in 2025. This influx has propelled total assets managed by gold ETFs worldwide to $559 billion, while physical gold holdings under these funds have climbed to an unprecedented 4,025 metric tons. The leading ETF in this space, SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE:GLD), has delivered a robust 64% return over this period, reflecting the metal’s vigorous upward trajectory.
North America dominated the inflows, accounting for approximately $51 billion of the total. Europe also reversed previous trends, contributing $12 billion in net inflows after two consecutive years of outflows. Within Europe, the United Kingdom and Switzerland experienced particularly strong demand, spurred by elevated geopolitical risks and interest in currency-hedged gold products that offer protection amid currency volatility.
Asia, meanwhile, registered $25 billion in inflows, exceeding the cumulative totals since the region’s first gold ETF listings in 2007. India has led this regional demand surge, supported by policies and price points that have encouraged a shift from traditional gold jewelry purchasing to ETF investments. China and Japan similarly increased their holdings, influenced by comparable dynamics including policy adjustments and rising gold prices.
On the official reserves front, gold has overtaken US Treasury securities to become the world’s primary foreign reserve asset for the first time in nearly 30 years. Research from the World Gold Council indicates that foreign central banks now hold gold assets valued close to $4 trillion, surpassing roughly $3.9 trillion in US bonds. This milestone reinforces ongoing trends toward de-dollarization, where central banks seek to reduce reliance on dollar-denominated securities in favor of bullion, valued for its lack of counterparty risk.
Central banks have played a pivotal role in this shift, expected to have added approximately 1,000 metric tons of gold to their reserves in 2025 alone despite elevated prices. The motivations driving this accumulation include mounting concerns over the fracturing global political order, fiscal policy sustainability, and the need to secure long-term currency stability in an uncertain international environment.
The appreciation in gold prices has had a tangible impact on central bank balance sheets, particularly evident in Switzerland. The Swiss National Bank reported a profit near 26 billion Swiss francs in 2025, largely attributed to a record valuation gain on its gold holdings amid rising market values for the metal. However, UBS economist Alessandro Bee notes a nuanced effect: although gold gains boosted the bank’s results, concurrent appreciation of the Swiss franc—a traditional safe haven—converted some foreign equity market gains into losses when measured in francs.
These developments in gold markets are reflected in investment vehicles such as the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ARCA:GDX) and SPDR Gold Shares (ARCA:GLD), which serve as benchmarks for exposure to gold and related equities. Investors continue to monitor these instruments amid a landscape characterized by elevated geopolitical tension and currency market shifts.