In This Article
Gold, or yellow metal, is the ultimate store of value. For thousands of years, people and governments have used it as money and, in the modern day, as a cushion against inflation. Gold is attractive because of its scarcity, durability, and global acceptance.
Over the years, the asset has remained valuable with a market cap far exceeding all cryptocurrencies.
The good news is that in the blockchain and digital age, gold exists beyond physical bars/coins and is available on-chain. Some of the most popular gold tokens include Pax Gold (PAXG) and Tether Gold (XAUT).
Combining gold’s stability, low volatility, and global acceptance with the efficiency of the blockchain, say on Ethereum or Solana, allows investors to own gold shares that offer instant liquidity.
Gold (XAU) Price Prediction 2025–2030
In this gold price prediction, we shall examine its price potential, innovation around the yellow metal, including the explosion of gold stablecoins, and factors that may influence prices in the coming years.
Year
Expected Price Range (USD)
Midpoint Estimate (USD)
Key Insights
2024
$2,000 – $2,800
$2,300
Early 2025
Above $3,000 – $3,160+
$3,080
End 2025
$2,500 – $3,500
$3,000
End 2026
$3,000 – $4,000
$3,500
End 2030
$4,000 – $5,500
$4,750
Gold Price Prediction 2025–2026
In our gold price prediction for 2025 through 2026, we expect gold to be firm, spiking to $4,000 by 2026. Demand will mostly pour in from macroeconomic factors and institutions:
Central Banks
This position is drawn chiefly from events of the past years. With central banks ramping up purchases and countries, especially those in the BRICS, de-dollarizing, gold prices will rise. For the third consecutive year, central banks bought over 1,000 tons of gold in 2024. More importantly, China began purchases in November 2024, immediately after Donald Trump won the election.
If central banks continue buying at this pace, they could absorb roughly 40% of the annual mine supply, putting more pressure on prices. This trend is expected as countries diversify from USD reliance and cushion their economies after Trump’s tariff threats and the ballooning debt in the United States. If central banks purchase more gold in the next two years, gold prices will easily break above $3,500.
Monetary Policies in the U.S.
Analysts are also tracking the United States Federal Reserve and its actions. Rate cuts in 2025 and projections of even more rate drops in 2026 will greatly shape gold prices. After the 75 basis point rate cut in 2024, the consensus is that the Federal Reserve could lower rates by another 100 basis points by the end of the year, softening inflation but keeping it above the 2% benchmark. If rates fall, the demand for non-yielding gold will increase, boosting prices as investors seek to preserve value.
Geopolitical tensions will also play a key role. With Trump and the United States pressing China with high tariffs, high volatility in the global markets, and general uncertainty, gold prices will likely resume their uptrend. Gold will remain a suitable hedge against disruptions. If tensions escalate or new sanctions are announced against Russia or Iran, gold prices will rise even higher.
Technology and Gold ETF Flows
Investment demand from institutions is also a factor to watch. The rise of gold stablecoins will play a role. As the tokenized gold market grows in strength, gold will likely find more exposure and demand.
In the TradFi markets, gold ETF flows surged in 2024. Hopes of higher prices, looking at fundamentals, might see even more capital flow to gold ETFs, driving prices to fresh all-time highs.
Gold Price Forecast: Long-Term Outlook 2027–2030
By 2030, gold could be trading above $5,000. However, for the yellow metal to reach this level, there must be sustained central bank demand and, most importantly, global reserve shifts. Central banks, especially the PBoC, have been steadily buying gold.
By 2026, central bank reserves could exceed 40,000 tons, with China and Russia leading the charge. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects U.S. debt interest payments to hit $1 trillion annually by the end of the decade. This, in turn, could weaken the USD, turning attention to gold.
By 2030, J.P. Morgan analysts predict a new interest rate cycle in the United States that could push inflation toward the 4% to 5% zone due to debt servicing costs. This prediction on inflation is well above the 2% benchmark rate. If rates are kept lower, yields will be lower, forcing capital to gold, thereby propelling prices.
President Trump’s second term will end in 2028. If his successor continues with tariffs and escalates trade wars, the global economic scene could fracture.
For this reason, emerging countermeasures, including a BRICS currency backed by gold, could spike demand. The currency, dubbed the Unit, would be backed 40% by gold and 60% by a basket of BRICS currencies. The inclusion of gold is due to its stability.
Another factor to consider is the possibility of the gold mine supply dwindling by the end of the decade. A supply crunch, while keeping demand steady, could easily push prices to record highs.
As markets assess the geopolitical and trade uncertainty that lies ahead, Natasha Kaneva, head of Global Commodities Strategy at J.P. Morgan, said,
“We maintain our multi-year bullish outlook on gold. From a macro perspective, a universal tariff scenario would likely supercharge the broad price effects for precious metals. Boosted economic growth concerns and higher inflation risks could continue to fuel strong investor demand for gold.”
Our Gold Price Prediction Methodology
Gold Price History
Since time immemorial, gold has always been valuable and tied to a price, shaped by demand and supply.
In the 1870s to 1933 gold standard era, gold traded at around $21, rising to $35/ounce in the Bretton Woods era between 1944 and 1971. Prices spiked in the 1970s as commodity prices soared and the USD weakened.
Although prices hit $850 per ounce in 1980, they crashed to as low as $300 per ounce in the 1980s.
After the Great Financial Crisis of 2008 and 2009, gold peaked at around $1,900 in September 2011 before sliding to $1,050 by 2015 due to a strong USD.
However, fears of another global crisis, interest rate cuts, and tariffs continue to drive demand. Interestingly, in the last 20 years, gold has increased by 662%, whereas silver has risen by 345%. By April 2025, gold prices broke above $3,100, reaching $3,160 per ounce, an all-time high.
Notably, since Trump’s inauguration, trading activity in tokenized gold has seen a major boost. According to a report by CEX.IO, weekly trading volumes for Paxos Gold (PAXG) and Tether Gold (XAUT) have jumped by 900% and 300%, respectively. The report also highlights that tokenized gold has become one of the best-performing sectors in crypto during this period, with its overall market cap rising by 21%.
Gold-Backed Tokens And How to Buy?
Gold is physical, and tokenizing this precious metal was difficult for a long time until Ethereum popularized smart contracts.
In essence, gold-backed tokens are digital assets tied to the value of physical gold. They are issued on smart contract platforms like Ethereum or Algorand, for example.
Each token represents a specific amount of gold, often measured in grams or ounces. Another crucial feature is that gold tokens can be fractionalized, meaning an amount smaller than an ounce can be sold to anyone.
Every token is backed by an equal amount of gold, stored by a regulated custodian.
To ensure each token is sufficiently backed, issuers like Tether Gold and Paxos often audit their reserves regularly for transparency. These issuers are also regulated by different agencies. Paxos, the issuer of Pax Gold, for example, is regulated by the NYDFS.
You can consider buying these gold-backed tokens on these exchanges:
One big advantage of buying and holding gold-backed tokens is that they are liquid and portable, unlike clunky physical gold. Holders can also store them on any non-custodial wallet like Best Wallet.
Best Wallet is a one-stop platform for all things crypto. Users can access DeFi services, lend or stake their assets and earn rewards. The best feature of this wallet is its ‘Upcoming Tokens’ section, where investors can participate in the best crypto presale projects with just a click of a button.
To know more about this wallet, you can read our detailed Best Wallet review 2025.
Is Gold a Buy?
Gold is integral to global finance, and its track record is comparable to that of no other asset. It is useful as a store of value, helping managers hedge against stock market crashes, global financial turmoil, wars, and other catastrophes.
With blockchain, investors can tokenize their gold and participate in DeFi to earn a yield. By default, physical gold earns no yield or dividend. However, fees accrue from storage.
For long-term investors, analysts recommend allocating between 5% and 15% of your portfolio to gold—it doesn’t matter the form—for diversification.
On the other hand, short-term traders can choose to swap cash for gold, and vice versa, depending on market conditions and objectives, primarily for profit.
While gold is a good investment, prices can sometimes be volatile. Therefore, before buying, it is better to research thoroughly and, ideally, buy when prices are down. Buying at peaks, even when dollar-cost averaging, lowers ROI and profits.
Conclusion: Gold Price Prediction
Gold is timeless, and its value proposition is stronger than ever. Analysts believe the yellow metal will continue rising as central banks accumulate and fears of recession and trade wars rise. By the end of the decade, gold may reach $5,000 and even spike if the BRICS Unit launches. For crypto and gold supporters, buying gold tokens like PAXG and XAUT and storing them on Best Wallet can offer stability, efficiency and peace of mind.
See Also: Silver (AUG) Price Prediction 2025-2030
References
- “United States Interest Rate.” https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/interest-rate.
- “Fed Could Slash Rates by 100bps in 2025 amid Growing Fears of Trade War.” https://www.mpamag.com/us/mortgage-industry/market-updates/fed-could-slash-rates-by-100bps-in-2025-amid-growing-fears-of-trade-war/530991.
- “US-China Trade War Intensifies as Beijing’s Tariffs Come into Effect After Trump Pause.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/10/us-china-trade-war-intensifies-as-beijings-tariffs-come-into-effect-after-trump-pause.
- “Tokenized Gold.” https://www.coingecko.com/en/categories/tokenized-gold.
FAQs
What drives the price of gold?
Macroeconomic factors such as inflation, interest rate decisions, and geopolitical tensions due to tariffs tend to drive prices.
Is gold a good investment right now?
Gold is a solid hedge against inflation and global economic uncertainty. For this reason, most analysts think gold is a good investment to include in a portfolio for diversification.
What are gold-backed tokens, and how do they work?
Gold-backed tokens like PAXG are issued on smart contract platforms like Ethereum. They are pegged to physical gold, all stored in vaults.
Are gold-backed tokens safe to invest in?
Buying and investing in gold-backed tokens is safe. However, consider buying from issuers regulated preferably in the U.S. or Europe.
How do gold-backed tokens compare to physical gold?
All tokens, such as UNI, are liquid and easily tradable, unlike physical gold, that are clunky with limited trading times. Holders can engage in DeFi, staking, and lending for a high yield. Physical gold has no yields.
Why you can trust 99Bitcoins
Established in 2013, 99Bitcoin’s team members have been crypto experts since Bitcoin’s Early days.
Weekly Research
100k+Monthly readers
Expert contributors
2000+Crypto Projects Reviewed
Free Bitcoin Crash Course
- Enjoyed by over 100,000 students.
- One email a day, 7 days in a row.
- Short and educational, guaranteed!
In This Article
Maximize Your Trading With Margex’s 20% Deposit Bonus
‘Buy in May, Get Paid in June?’ – $300K Bitcoin Calls Heat Up, BTC Bull Token Is Locked In
CoinGecko Report Analysis: What Moved Crypto in Q1 2025?
10 Best Crypto Bonuses in 2025 – Top Exchange Offers & Promotions
BingX Launches $10 Risk-Free Copy Trading Voucher for New Users in Exclusive Event
