Does Physical Gold Have Counterparty Risk? The Facts

When you deposit money at a bank, you are not storing it. You are lending it. Physical gold counterparty risk is zero because allocated metal is not a claim on any institution — it cannot be frozen, diluted, or devalued by policy. This explainer covers the mechanism and how to structure both approaches correctly.

Gold Near $4,330 as Rate-Hike Bets Hit 70% and China Acts

Five forces are moving gold and silver right now. Strong U.S. jobs data has pushed Fed rate-hike odds above 70%. China’s biggest banks raised gold trading margins to 120% — pushing leverage below 1x. The People’s Bank of China extended its buying streak to 19 straight months. Iran announced an end to its military operation against Israel, steadying metals after last week’s 5% pullback. And elevated oil is keeping inflation expectations alive. Here is what each one means for long-term precious metals holders.

Gold Is Down 22% — The Same Drop as 2022. The Floor Is Not the Same.

Gold has fallen 22% from its January 2026 all-time high of $5,589 — the same magnitude as the entire 2022 Fed hiking cycle. But in 2022, the Fed delivered 525 actual basis points of rate increases. Today, markets are pricing roughly a 43–50% probability of a single speculative hike that hasn’t happened yet. Same number. Very different floor. Here’s what the gap between those two corrections is telling long-term holders of physical gold.