Global gold demand is rising as nations and firms seek safe-haven assets.
The Central Reserve Bank (BCR) of El Salvador announced that it has purchased $50 million worth of gold. This marks the second gold purchase carried out by the bank since 1990.
The acquisition comes amid gold’s record rally. The precious metal has climbed nearly 20% year to date as rising macroeconomic and geopolitical tensions push investors toward safe-haven assets.
In its latest announcement, the Central Reserve Bank said it purchased 9,298 troy ounces of gold, valued at $50 million. The acquisition follows El Salvador’s earlier purchase of 13,999 troy ounces of gold in September 2025, which was also valued at roughly $50 million at the time.
According to the BCR, the latest purchase raises the country’s total gold holdings to 67,403 troy ounces, further strengthening the composition of its international reserves.
The central bank described gold as a “universally strategic reserve asset” that supports long-term financial stability, helps protect the economy from structural shifts in global markets, and enhances confidence among investors and the broader public.
“The Central Reserve Bank of El Salvador states that this second acquisition strengthens the country’s long-term assets, while maintaining a prudent balance in the composition of the assets that make up the International Reserves,” the announcement read.
The gold addition comes as the country continues to expand its Bitcoin holdings. El Salvador has built a reputation as a global crypto pioneer.
According to the latest data from El Salvador’s Bitcoin office, the country’s Bitcoin reserves now stand at 7,547 BTC, valued at approximately $635 million.
Meanwhile, El Salvador’s move to increase its gold exposure comes amid a surge in global demand for the precious metal. Gold has climbed to fresh record highs this year as investors increasingly rotate into safe-haven assets.
This trend is reflected in recent actions by major buyers. The National Bank of Poland has revealed plans to expand its gold reserves to 700 tonnes.
China also added more than 10 tonnes of gold in November, a figure Goldman Sachs estimates is nearly 11 times higher than the amount officially reported by the country’s central bank.
“Assuming official purchases were 10% of what China is actually buying, this suggests China acquired +270 tonnes of physical gold in 2025. China is stockpiling gold like we are in a major crisis,” The Kobeissi Letter wrote.
Moreover, BeInCrypto reported that Tether added roughly 27 tonnes of gold in the fourth quarter of 2025. The firm is purchasing 1-2 tonnes of gold per week and targeting a 10-15% portfolio allocation.
Demand for tokenized gold has also risen, with on-chain data showing increased large-scale whale purchases of Tether Gold (XAUT) and Paxos Gold (PAXG).
At press time, gold was trading at $5,176, down 4% over the past 24 hours, as escalating US-Iran tensions weighed on assets across markets, including commodities, equities, and cryptocurrencies.
