For centuries, gold has played integral roles in the monetary system as a unit of exchange and a monetary anchor. While gold’s official role has diminished under the existing system of floating exchange rates, it has retained several currency characteristics. As such, gold acts as a natural hedge to the US dollar – the world’s reserve currency – and it is significantly influenced by it. Investors use gold as they seek the safety of supply-constrained hard assets, especially as governments implement inflationary policies. Central banks use gold no differently: they view it as an integral part of their foreign reserves, providing diversification and buffering geopolitical and sovereign risks. Looking forward, as the monetary system likely evolves into a multi-currency platform, gold will remain a key asset to balance the risks present in at currencies.