For the first time, the US Treasury’s gold reserves have surpassed the historic threshold of $1 trillion—almost 90 times the value reported in official accounts. Why is there a disparity? The answer is simple! The price of an ounce of gold is no longer the modest $42 set by Congress in 1973 but a staggering $3,824. That is a 45% increase in just one year. It is a gold boom fueled by trade wars, global political drama, and fears over government finances.
Officially, the US gold stockpile is valued at just $11 billion, a clearly outdated figure, as if America’s bookkeeping froze in the era of the Bronx and Elvis. But if the government valued these reserves at market prices, the federal budget would gain nearly an extra $1 trillion, a genuine “golden shower” amid a growing national debt near $2 trillion.
What is surprising is that neither the Treasury nor the Federal Reserve has moved to revalue these assets, likely because increased liquidity and a slower pace of Fed balance sheet reduction might not cast the US financial system in the best light. Billions in extra cash are no joke—they would represent a real economic shake-up.
For those who enjoy a bit of Hollywood lore, it is worth remembering that half of America’s gold is stored in the deep bunkers of Fort Knox, where it was moved in the 1930s for protection against possible naval attacks. The rest is split between Manhattan vaults and military depots.
While some search for new investment opportunities and others debate the future of digital currencies, America’s gold reserve quietly grows. It is a reminder that in the world of finance, stability is often far more desirable than any digital adventures.
