The euro has lost its position as the second-largest reserve asset globally, with gold taking its place, the European Central Bank (ECB) stated in its 2025 annual review.
The top European financial institution took notice of a surge in central bank purchases and record-breaking prices of the yellow metal. At 20% of reserves, gold is slowly closing the gap on the U.S. dollar, which leads at 46%.
“Adjusted for inflation, real gold prices in 2024 surpassed their previous peak seen during the 1979 oil crisis. Meanwhile, gold reserves held by central banks stand at levels close to those last seen in the Bretton Woods era (36,000 tons), although they now account for a far smaller share of total gold supply,” the ECB said in the review.
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