Julien Chevalier https://goldbroker.com/author/julien-chevalier Gold has been the standard currency for centuries. Each time the heart of the global economy shifted, gold reserves followed suit. Its use has continued to evolve throughout history until the establishment of the gold standard system, which lasted only a century, from the end of the 19th century until 1971. As central banks continue to increase their gold reserves in recent years, a sign of a shift in the world order, the question of a new international financial system is now more relevant than ever. Currency is a human creation and lies at the heart of trade. In a way, it reflects humanity and can serve both the best and worst inventions. Throughout history, it has taken many different forms, successively represented by salt, shells, bronze, silver, and gold. Today, and for several centuries now, it has been issued solely through debt, whose value is based on the trust we collectively place in it. This new currency was itself integrated into various systems: initia... Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:18:21 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/towards-return-gold-standard-3674 The year 2026 is expected to mark the end of an era. The intervention in Venezuela was presented as an operation to combat drug trafficking; the war in Iran, as a preventive measure. At the heart of both conflicts lies a double standard that has been in place for over half a century. This imbalance is coming to an end, taking with it a world order that has run its course. And as the conflict drags on, the dilemma facing the U.S. central bank is fast approaching, with the risk of a collapse of the financial system. For several months now, de-dollarization has been advancing at a rapid pace. Central banks now hold more gold than dollars in their reserves, and a growing number of major powers are deciding to sell their U.S. bonds. As the dollar enters its final crisis in the face of debt that has spiraled out of control, Iran is emerging more than ever as a direct enemy of the United States. Since the 1979 religious revolution and repeated Western sanctions against the cou... Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:15:46 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/war-iran-accelerating-de-dollarization-rising-financial-risk-3697 The illusion of a transatlantic alliance is crumbling day by day. As threats to European countries multiply, Donald Trump is simply repeating what the United States has always done: dividing Europe without breaking the alliance, in order to maintain its hold. But this time, European countries seem to be acknowledging their dependence. The majority of Europeans now believe that the United States can no longer be considered a reliable ally. However, this situation is nothing new: since World War II (and even before that under President Wilson), the United States has managed to impose a vassalage on the Old Continent. During the negotiations for the creation of the IMF and the World Bank, which brought the two sides together during the war, the United States was already threatening European countries by reducing their arms deliveries. The American victory at Bretton Woods in 1944 then confirmed this dependence, especially as it resulted a few years later in the signing of... Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:30:54 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/europe-power-struggle-united-states-3679 Everyone can see and feel it: history is accelerating faster than ever before. At a time when global debt has reached historic highs and both production and consumption have increased tenfold, the established order is being shaken up and political decisions are defying all logic. Conflicts are multiplying around the world and new, less predictable ones are emerging. As 2026 begins with new national and international tensions, what might this year look like in geopolitical terms? The current period responds to historical dynamics that transcend it. We are at the end of a cycle, where phenomena similar to those we have already experienced are returning: record deficits, high debt, rising public spending, declining growth, unprecedented inequality, and, last but not least, an increase in wars. The first observation takes us across the Atlantic, where decisions continue to dictate the course of world events. The American Empire, the most indebted country, is showing clear... Tue, 10 Feb 2026 06:22:03 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/global-geopolitics-what-expect-2026-3671 In 2026, the digital euro is set to take a new turn. The adoption of its regulation is on the agenda of European parliamentarians, with a view to its implementation in 2029. While the euro has steadily lost value in recent decades and European countries' budgets are sinking into the red, this digital euro would serve as a relay to maintain the stability of the European monetary system. At a price that no one can yet measure... Currency is based solely on trust. As it is now almost exclusively created by debt, its value is based on the ability of each economic agent to repay their credit. The global monetary system is therefore based on the sum of our mutual commitments. However, as European countries' debt continues to grow and repayment becomes more complicated than ever, confidence in the euro continues to weaken, making it necessary to establish a new model. The digital euro, as presented by the ECB, seeks to be part of this shift. This central euro would... Tue, 27 Jan 2026 06:21:13 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/digital-euro-threat-monetary-revolution-3659 Some dates remain in history. Some dates also erase history. Everyone remembers that World War I broke out on June 28, 1914, with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. But this war, like all others, was the result of events that had been unfolding over a long period of time. History repeats itself all too often. And the era we are living in is, in many ways, similar to the period leading up to the Great War. Crises are multiplying and intertwining, powers are coming into conflict, divisions of all kinds are becoming more pronounced, isolationism is becoming a reality once again, and nothing seems to serve peace and unity. Above all, we have been witnessing widespread rearmament for several years now. Despite historic deficits, defense budgets are growing steadily around the world. This year, global military spending will reach nearly $3 trillion, a record amount. For, let us remember, the unprecedented rise in global debt is prompting countries to seek new so... Tue, 09 Dec 2025 06:02:03 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/1914-2025-when-history-repeats-itself-3642 Two decades ago, everyone was heralding China's arrival as the next hegemonic power. America's decline, economically, demographically, and socially, was becoming so obvious that it could only give way, as history has repeatedly shown, to the rise of a new superpower. But that was without taking into account the fact that China would follow the same path. China's major economic development as we know it began in the 1980s. After several decades of communism, China liberalized its economy and opened up to the market. It joined the global march initiated by the United States in 1945 and developed at an unprecedented rate. Thanks to growth of more than 10% per year until the end of the 2000s, it managed to lift more than 800 million people out of poverty, with a population of around 1.3 billion. As an integral part of globalization, it also became dependent on it: during the major slowdown linked to the 2008 financial crisis, its GDP slowed sharply and the co... Tue, 18 Nov 2025 06:23:15 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/united-states-china-what-next-3627 The value of any currency is based on trust. Trust in the institution that issues the currency, in the bank that holds it, in the person with whom it is exchanged, but also in the stability and power of the country. However, as the quantity of currency increases and exceeds the quantity of goods and services produced, its value decreases and trust is lost in all its forms. When this happens, the power of the issuing country inevitably follows the same trend. This change then leads to capital movements towards other assets and other countries, including gold, as history shows us. This is what we are seeing today in Eastern countries. Gold purchases by the central banks of new powers, including China and Russia, reflect a shift in global power from the West to the East that is only just beginning. Let's get back to basics. If we accept a currency that has no intrinsic value, unlike gold or silver, it is because we all believe that this currency will be accepted colle... Tue, 04 Nov 2025 06:26:17 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/crisis-confidence-monetary-system-3618 With each passing day, the United States loses a little more of its superpower status. This gradual weakening, which began several decades ago, has now reached a major turning point. The policy pursued by Donald Trump has opened the world’s eyes. And the financial indicators do not lie. While in the U.S. — as in most developed nations — deficits and public debt are deepening, gold is reaching new record highs. In this period of rupture, the yellow metal is reclaiming its historic role, having always been at the heart of the international financial system. It is against this backdrop that we speak today with Luke Gromen, one of the world’s foremost experts on bond and monetary markets. After more than fifteen years at the top of financial market analysis, he founded in 2014 the independent research firm Forest for the Trees (FFTT, LLC). In this interview, he shares his perspectives on the current state of U.S. public debt, the role of the dollar and fiat currencies, and t... Tue, 07 Oct 2025 05:18:13 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/luke-gromen-united-states-heading-toward-inflationary-crisis-3603 Gold continues to reach new heights. And yet, interest among retail investors, particularly in Western countries, remains very low. Demand is mainly driven by institutions, particularly central banks in emerging countries. The monetary role of gold is still poorly understood... even though the yellow metal has been at the heart of the international financial system for millennia. How can this lack of democratization be explained? Why are other assets more attractive to investors? What obstacles prevent gold from generating wider enthusiasm? To understand these dynamics, we interviewed John Reade, one of the world's leading gold market strategists. Now Director of Strategy and Research at the World Gold Council in London, he has been a market specialist for nearly 40 years, having worked for some of the world's largest international investment banks. Julien Chevalier: How do you explain the relative lack of interest in gold among Western retail investors, parti... Wed, 24 Sep 2025 05:22:41 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/gold-role-still-very-poorly-understood-john-reade-wgc-3590 France is going through a critical period in its history. While the regime crisis of 1958 was a major event, the crisis the country is experiencing today is quite different, as it is taking place in the context of a world in turmoil. The country's democratic and political crisis is now compounded by the possibility of a financial crisis. The markets are beginning to punish the country, which is now preparing for all possible scenarios. France remains the only country in the eurozone with four simultaneous deficits (budget, trade balance, primary budget, and balance of payments) and the highest level of debt. “France's policy is not made on the trading floor,” General de Gaulle said in 1959, reminding us that the nation must remain entirely sovereign in economic matters. However, when we see the decisions taken by former Prime Minister François Bayrou, we wonder what has become of the General's legacy. Over the summer, a €44 billion savings plan was presen... Wed, 10 Sep 2025 05:25:52 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/france-heading-towards-financial-crisis-3598 The start of the new school year promises to be eventful in the United States. The US Federal Reserve (Fed) is expected to cut interest rates for the first time in five years. With the job market remaining fragile, the spectre of recession still looming, and the trade war adding to uncertainty, this decision shows above all that the major financial cycle that began in the United States is coming to an end. Trump's policy is no accident. The US president wants to control history in a period as short as his term in office. By returning to protectionism, he has only one goal: to preserve American hegemony. He knows that it is in decline and that its fall is near if nothing is done to stop it. Many financial indicators are in the red: first, the country's debt recently exceeded $37 trillion, or $108,000 per American citizen. The budget deficit stands at 8% of GDP, but the slow de-dollarization of the world prevents the country from being able to run up its deficit... Mon, 08 Sep 2025 05:45:08 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/trump-united-states-turning-point-3595 France and the United Kingdom both play a major role in the gold market. France is the fourth largest holder of gold in the world with more than 2,400 tons, while the United Kingdom remains the historic heart of the market (and has been since the Middle Ages) with more than 245,000 tons traded on the London market each year. These two powers, which have always been rivals, naturally offer different perspectives on the market, particularly since Brexit. However, they do have some common interests, such as the trend towards a return to sovereignty, persistent inflation, their inextricable financial situation, and their involvement in international conflicts. To understand their differences, we interviewed two leading observers, Paris-based manager Arnaud du Plessis (CPR Asset Management) and London-based analyst John Reade (World Gold Council). From two offices separated by the English Channel, they offer us a cross perspective from London and Paris, particularly on the d... Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:24:04 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/paris-london-cross-perspectives-gold-market-3589 Everyone knows that Donald Trump has launched a large-scale trade war against the world. But who knows that central banks are buying gold in historic quantities? Many people know that US tariffs on Europe will now be 15%. But who is aware that China is continuing to buy gold and, what's more, is doing so discreetly? These issues are closely linked, yet they are not being treated in the same way. Gold is attracting growing interest among specialists but remains little known to the general public. As a result, only 1% of global assets are invested in gold. There are many reasons why gold is not more popular. First, gold is no longer a means of exchange. Its historical role as currency ended in 1971 when the Bretton Woods agreements came to an end, marking the end of the gold standard. No government wants its citizens to accumulate gold, as this would undermine confidence in the legal tender. Secondly, gold is by nature beyond state control. It can be purchased from... Tue, 12 Aug 2025 05:22:19 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/still-little-popularized-gold-quietly-making-progress-3575 The BRICS 2025 Summit is now over. This year in Rio, it reminds us that the heart of the global economy is gradually shifting from West to East. Beyond important declarations on global governance, and the obvious shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world, the BRICS are challenging the Enlightenment legacy advocated by the West in the face of the flaws in international law. The order built in the aftermath of the Second World War favored Western countries, to the detriment of the rest of the world. But we can never repeat it often enough: every injustice carries within it the seeds of its own downfall. Western countries should take note of this statement, for they are helplessly witnessing the birth of a new world over which they no longer have control. The “double standards” that have reigned for over half a century are no longer acceptable, and the BRICS wanted to make this clear this year. This can be seen today in the unilateral sanctions and violations of internat... Tue, 15 Jul 2025 08:03:30 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/rio-2025-brics-in-a-position-of-power-3568 Capitalism promises us a paradise, but are we living in hell? At this stage of technological development, what kind of progress are we talking about today? Can economic progress be incompatible with human progress? Why does the modern economy find its success in maximizing the deadly sins? Can these sins be strengths if viewed differently? Pride, greed, envy, anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth. These are the seven deadly sins known to us all. Their number was not chosen at random: the number seven, sign of the creation of the world, symbolizes self-understanding... These sins are present in every human being. They reflect an imbalance, because they share a fundamental point: excess. The modern economy operates in the same way. By commoditizing everything, it constantly renews our needs in a never-ending race. It evolves according to the money-commodity-currency cycle so decried by Marx, where capital produces a commodity that is itself paid for in money. And all this in... Wed, 18 Jun 2025 05:26:54 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/economics-seven-deadly-sins-3551 For several decades now, the global economy has been on a headlong rush. It has been living on credit, both literally and figuratively. Financial deregulation in the 1980s created a financial bubble that never really burst. With each crisis, governments preferred to postpone the consequences with even more debt. In this context, a number of regulations came into being, notably the Basel rules, conceived as technical responses to a profound imbalance. The latest, Basel III, introduce a new element: the return of physical gold to the heart of the international financial system. As the United States plans to implement them from July onwards, the subject is back in the spotlight more than ever. The Basel rules have been around for a long time. Their creation dates back to 1974, a period when the rise of the big banks was beginning to make them “too big to fail”. Three years earlier, the end of the gold standard marked a historic turning point, paving the way for a system in... Wed, 21 May 2025 05:37:32 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/gold-hidden-leverage-basel-rules-3543 In an article published in January, I predicted that the dollar would continue to soar until at least the middle of the year, before starting to fall. Trump's aggressive economic stance was bound to push the dollar higher, making investing in the United States so attractive. But this analysis was confronted by an anomalous phenomenon: the end of the dollar's appeal in times of crisis. This change shows that a shift in the international monetary order is underway. It could signal the final crisis of the American currency. With Trump waging a trade war, foreign companies have every interest in setting up operations in the United States. This not only enables them to avoid tariffs, but also to benefit from subsidies introduced under the Biden administration and still in force. Several multinationals, including L'Oréal, Volkswagen and LVMH, have made repeated statements to this effect. These relocations to the USA are attracting new foreign capital. At the s... Tue, 06 May 2025 05:38:31 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/towards-dollar-final-crisis-3536 A statement can sometimes be a time bomb. Through the voices of senior politicians, Germany declares its intention to recover the gold it is storing in the United States. Far from being a simple communication stunt, this announcement reflects the profound upheavals currently affecting the international financial system. Above all, it illustrates the gradual erosion of American monetary hegemony, now marked by a loss of confidence. In these troubled times, gold is more than just a metal. Above all, it embodies a symbol of economic power, linking every nation to its past and its sovereignty. Every nation seeks to protect itself in the face of uncertainty - in financial terms, gold plays this role of stability. This dynamic translates into purchases of yellow metal, but also into control of a country's reserves. Few know it, but a country's gold is often held outside its national territory, in New York or London in particular, for both financial and historical re... Wed, 23 Apr 2025 05:48:51 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/germany-wants-repatriate-gold-start-big-movement-3529 The question of European savings is on everyone's lips. The reason: while European countries are facing an inextricable financial situation, the need for investment has never been greater. Ecological transition, re-industrialization, competitiveness, new technologies, armaments - the stakes are high and very costly. Estimated at 800 billion euros in Mario Draghi's latest report, these investments would make it possible to fuel growth and boost productivity on the Old Continent. Against this backdrop, the savings project could well accelerate in the weeks ahead. European savings are among the largest in the world. Fear of the passage of time, born of the continent's history, and current social conditions (aging population, inflexible labor market, institutional constraints, etc.) are driving Europeans to hoard. Total European savings are estimated at 35.5 trillion euros (this figure may vary depending on the analysis), representing around 15% of household... Tue, 08 Apr 2025 05:38:00 +0000 https://goldbroker.com/news/european-savings-towards-major-transformation-3521