On June 17, CoinWorld reported that the World Gold Council stated that the association's (2025 Central Bank Gold Reserves Survey) set a new benchmark, receiving 73 responses — the highest since the survey was launched eight years ago. Such high participation strongly indicates that central banks are increasingly focused on gold. The survey results show:
1. Central banks around the world have a positive outlook on gold, with 95% believing that global central bank gold reserves will increase in the next 12 months.
2. A record 43% of central banks indicated that their institution's gold reserves will also increase during the same period, and no one expects gold holdings to decline.
3. The proportion of central banks actively managing gold reserves rose from 37% in 2024 to 44% in 2025, with the primary motivation being yield enhancement, although risk management surpassed tactical trading to become the second largest motive.
4. The Bank of England remains the most popular location for gold reserves (64%), although the proportion of central banks choosing to store gold domestically rose from 41% in 2024 to 59% in 2025, with only 7% planning to increase domestic storage in the next 12 months.
The performance of gold during times of crisis, its portfolio diversification function, and its inflation-hedging characteristics are key factors driving central banks to plan to increase their gold holdings in the coming year. These traits are also the core reasons for central banks' strategic allocation to gold.