Sorry, but I really have to call this out as pedantic and irrelevant at a time when the main risk is the US going fascist. The Germans in particular are sensitive to that trend.
They're not motivated by an abstract argument. Any moment you're going to see a comment about how they should've put their money in crypto or some foolishness like that. This is not about central banking or government issued currencies. This is about a specific risk of dictatorship and war.
I don’t think this is correct. This is about German politics. Their central bank has been attempting to repatriate gold since 2013 in an effort to centralize their holdings. It’s also not just about the US. In theory, Germany could move all its gold holdings to Switzerland. Where there is a major trading hub. The fact that they want it back in the country is domestic politics.
Everything that happens in politics happens because someone managed to assemble a powerful enough coalition. Maybe some people wanted to repatriate gold before, but not enough to make it happen. Now suddenly, there are enough people.
France just did that and even made some gains. Was in HN today as well.
Germany has lost it, no farsightedness or longer plan. So frustrating how the German gov is failing on these longer term issues and are ground up in day-to-day noise. Flood the zone with shit comes to mind.
That was purely an accounting gain (because of selling that gold and buying it back). After realising this PnL the gold is now held at a much higher cost basis.
They're not motivated by an abstract argument. Any moment you're going to see a comment about how they should've put their money in crypto or some foolishness like that. This is not about central banking or government issued currencies. This is about a specific risk of dictatorship and war.