Central banks around the world have been accumulating gold in competition, leading to the first time in 30 years that American government bonds have been surpassed.
January 16, 2026 – A historic event has occurred that shakes confidence in the world's primary reserve currency.
According to the latest data from the World Gold Council and NoLimit's reports, after 1996 (over the last 30 years), for the first time, the value of gold held by central banks worldwide has surpassed the value of U.S. government debt instruments.
According to figures, the central banks' reserve holdings of gold have risen to 24% (approximately $4 trillion in value), while the amount of U.S. government debt instruments has decreased to 23% (approximately $3.9 trillion in value).
This phenomenon is not due to confrontation but rather the de-dollarization led by the BRICS member countries.
Specifically, China has increased its gold purchases to 44 tons by 2025, while Russia has aggressively accumulated gold to avoid the risks associated with asset freezes. Meanwhile, the American public debt has risen to a benchmark of $35 trillion.
For Americans, this could be "terrifying" information. The reason is that it shows the world's largest creditors are losing faith in the dollar. However, for gold-buying investors, this is a significant bullish indicator for market prospects.
The gold price is projected to reach $4,600 an ounce, while the silver price could reach as high as $90. Looking at the fact that central banks purchased up to 1,037 tons of gold last year, it confirms that hard assets are reclaiming their throne from paper debt instruments.
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