In recent years, a major shift has been happening in the world of finance and national reserves. Countries are making big moves with their gold and digital assets, and these changes are not just about money. They are about trust, security, and control in a world that feels less stable every day. Many governments are now bringing their gold back home from foreign vaults, while at the same time, some are selling off their Bitcoin holdings. This is not just a small trend. It is a global movement that is reshaping how nations think about their wealth and how they protect it.
Gold has always been seen as a safe asset. For centuries, countries have stored gold in their central banks as a way to back up their currencies and protect themselves during times of crisis. But for a long time, a lot of this gold was kept in vaults outside the country, often in places like London or New York. This was done for convenience and because these cities were seen as safe and stable. However, things have changed. After events like the Russia-Ukraine war and the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, the world saw something that made many countries nervous. The G7 countries seized the foreign currency reserves of Russia and Afghanistan. This meant that even though these countries owned the money, they could not access it. This sent a strong message to other nations. If your assets are not in your own control, they might not really be yours.
Because of this, many countries started to bring their gold back home. This process is called repatriation. India is one of the most active countries in this movement. The Reserve Bank of India has been moving gold from places like the Bank of England and the Bank for International Settlements back into India. In just the first half of 2025, India brought home 64 tonnes of gold. Since March 2023, the total amount repatriated is 274 tonnes. This is a huge number and shows how serious India is about keeping its gold under its own control. At the end of September 2025, India had 880.8 tonnes of gold, with 575.8 tonnes stored inside the country and 290.3 tonnes still abroad. The central bank also holds 14 tonnes in the form of gold deposits. The reason for this move is simple. In a world where rules can be broken and assets can be frozen, having your gold in your own vault is the safest option.
India is not alone. Poland is another country that has been very active in repatriating gold. In the first half of 2025, Poland added 67 tonnes to its reserves, bringing its total to 515 tonnes. This is a big increase and shows that Poland is serious about building up its gold holdings. Other countries like Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, China, and Turkey have also been buying more gold. Kazakhstan reversed its previous trend of selling gold and added 24.7 tonnes in 2025. Azerbaijan bought 34.5 tonnes, and China quietly increased its holdings every month. Turkey has also been building up its reserves, with the central bank reporting 590 tonnes as of December 2024. These moves are not just about numbers. They are about reducing dependence on the US dollar and making sure that national wealth is protected from outside interference.
The trend is not limited to just a few countries. Over 30 countries have been expanding their gold reserves in 2024 and 2025. The Kyrgyz Republic bought 2.2 tonnes, pushing gold to 64.4 percent of its total reserves, which is the highest percentage in the world. Egypt, Qatar, and Oman have also increased their holdings. Singapore, after adding 76.3 tonnes in 2023, has shifted to active management strategies. Nigeria has disclosed that it is bringing gold back from overseas vaults. This global movement shows that many nations are worried about the risks of keeping their assets abroad. They want to have full control over their gold, especially in times of geopolitical tension.
The United States, Germany, Italy, France, and Russia are still the biggest holders of gold in the world. The US has over 8,133 tonnes, Germany has 3,353 tonnes, Italy has 2,452 tonnes, France has 2,436 tonnes, and Russia has 2,330 tonnes. These countries have been storing most of their gold within their own borders for years. Germany, for example, has been repatriating gold for a long time and now keeps a major portion of its reserves inside the country. Russia, after facing sanctions and restrictions on the dollar, has turned to gold as a way to protect itself from Western influence. China is also quietly increasing its gold holdings as part of a long-term strategy to reduce dependence on the US dollar. Japan, the Netherlands, and Switzerland also maintain large gold reserves as a form of insurance against future crises.
While countries are bringing gold home, there is another trend happening at the same time. Some countries are selling their Bitcoin holdings. Bitcoin is a digital currency that was once seen as a revolutionary asset. Many governments and institutions bought Bitcoin when its price was rising, hoping to diversify their reserves and benefit from its growth. However, Bitcoin is very different from gold. It is not physical, it is not backed by any government, and its value can change very quickly. In times of uncertainty, Bitcoin can be risky. Some countries have decided that the risks are too high and have started to sell their Bitcoin.
The reasons for selling Bitcoin are many. One reason is that Bitcoin is not as stable as gold. Its price can go up and down very fast, and this makes it hard to use as a reserve asset. Another reason is that Bitcoin is not under the control of any central bank. If something goes wrong with the technology or the network, there is no way to fix it. Gold, on the other hand, is a physical asset that has been trusted for thousands of years. It does not depend on technology or the internet. It is something you can touch and store in a vault. In a world where digital systems can be hacked or shut down, physical gold is seen as safer.
There are also concerns about the environmental impact of Bitcoin. Mining Bitcoin uses a lot of electricity, and this has led to criticism from governments and environmental groups. Some countries are worried about the carbon footprint of holding Bitcoin and are choosing to sell it for this reason. There are also regulatory issues. Bitcoin is not regulated in the same way as traditional currencies, and this makes it harder for governments to control. In some cases, governments have sold Bitcoin because they want to focus on assets that are easier to manage and regulate.
The trend of selling Bitcoin is not as widespread as the trend of repatriating gold, but it is growing. Some countries that bought Bitcoin during the boom years are now selling it off. This is not because Bitcoin is worthless, but because it does not fit the needs of national reserves in the same way that gold does. Gold is seen as a safe haven, a store of value, and a way to protect against inflation and crisis. Bitcoin is seen as a speculative asset, something that can be risky and volatile.