In brief:
₿- Gold has reached its highest share of global central bank reserves in decades, reaffirming its position as a core safe-haven asset amid rising economic uncertainty.
₿- Bitcoin is increasingly viewed as a future reserve asset, with Deutsche Bank projecting it could join gold on central bank balance sheets by 2030 as volatility continues to decline.
A new Deutsche Bank report reveals that global central banks are accelerating gold accumulation while Bitcoin mirrors its momentum as a potential future reserve institutional asset. Gold’s share of central bank reserves surged to 24% in the second quarter of 2025, its highest level since the 1990s, highlighting a renewed appetite for hard assets amid economic uncertainty.
Gold hits real all-time highs, echoing Bitcoin’s rise
Deutsche Bank strategists noted that official gold demand is now running at twice the pace of the 2011–2021 average, signaling a long-term shift in reserve management. Interestingly, this accumulation trend aligns with Bitcoin’s record-breaking year, drawing parallels between the two assets as alternative stores of value outside traditional fiat systems.
While gold has continuously broken new nominal highs in recent years, it only recently surpassed its inflation-adjusted peak from 1980, marking a historic milestone. Analysts attribute this delay to decades of central bank gold sell-offs and the dominance of fiat currencies.
Now, as the world rethinks its dependence on the dollar and other fiat currencies, both gold and Bitcoin are increasingly viewed as hedges against inflation and monetary instability. The Deutsche Bank report titled “Gold’s reign, Bitcoin’s rise” highlights that both assets share key traits- limited supply, low correlation with traditional assets, and strong safe-haven appeal.
Bitcoin enters the reserve conversation
Deutsche Bank macro strategist Marion Laboure pointed out that Bitcoin’s trajectory increasingly resembles gold’s early years as a reserve commodity. Despite Bitcoin being “backed by nothing,” its volatility has fallen to historic lows in 2025, making it a more stable candidate for institutional holdings.
Laboure acknowledged persistent concerns, such as speculative trading, cybersecurity risks, and liquidity constraints, yet suggested that Bitcoin and gold could both appear on central bank balance sheets by 2030. With institutional adoption at record levels and some governments exploring Bitcoin as part of their strategic reserves, the asset’s transformation from speculation to stability appears well underway.
A dual reserve era ahead
Deutsche Bank’s findings suggest a world moving toward a dual reserve paradigm, where gold reclaims its historic influence and Bitcoin rises as a digital counterpart. Both assets are increasingly recognized for their independence from monetary policy and resilience during global financial transitions- a combination that could redefine the future of central banking.
Stay informed,
Rodcas Consulting Group