Digital gold heads for $170 billion by 2031

The global digital gold market could more than triple its value by 2031, reaching $170 billion, according to a report published by the digital outlet Bloomberg Línea. The sector's expansion reflects the emergence of new investment alternatives in precious metals, the development of financial infrastructure in digital environments and growing interest among younger investors in technology-based assets.

Projections by the World Gold Council (WGC) estimate that the current market stands between $45 billion and $55 billion, with expected annual growth of about 27%. The body also identifies a potential long-term demand of up to $700 billion, contingent on future regulatory changes, lower operating costs and the adoption of new financial tools.

This form of investment allows people to acquire physical gold without having to move bars or coins, since the metal remains stored in secure vaults while the user checks their holdings from a mobile phone. The WGC distinguishes two main systems: traditional gold accounts backed by a custodian institution, and tokenized gold, in which rights over the metal are represented by a digital certificate audited through blockchain technology.

David Tait, chief executive of the WGC, said according to Bloomberg Línea that tokenization and digital infrastructure will form the foundations of the new global market. Jordan Eliseo, general manager of ABC Bullion, for his part, stressed that exchange-traded funds (ETFs) worked as a key bridge by bringing traditional gold into the supermarket of investments already used by stock exchanges.