World Gold Council: Driven by Geopolitical Risks, More Central Banks Will Increase Gold Holdings in 2026

Gate News reports that on March 24, the World Gold Council’s global central bank chief Shaokai Fan stated that gold’s role as a hedge against de-dollarization and geopolitical risks is expected to encourage central banks that previously stayed on the sidelines to buy this precious metal this year. He pointed out that in recent months, central banks from countries such as Guatemala, Indonesia, and Malaysia have started purchasing gold, either returning to the market after long absences or making their first gold purchases. Shaokai Fan said, “In the past few months, some new central banks, or those that have been inactive or absent from the gold market for a long time, are entering the gold market. I believe this trend could continue into 2026.” He added that some central banks are also buying gold from domestic small-scale producers to support local industries and prevent these gold flows from reaching “informal participants.” Additionally, he noted that during a gold sell-off in October last year, central banks took the opportunity to increase their holdings, but it is still too early to determine whether a similar situation will occur during this month’s decline.