Have you ever wondered how much gold actually exists? As someone focused on "unbreakable code" and security, I find the physical security and scarcity of gold fascinating. The numbers are shocking.
1. The 22-Meter Cube
If you gathered every single ounce of gold ever mined and melted it down, it would fit into a cube just 22 meters on each side. That is all humanity possesses—roughly 216,265 metric tons.
2. The Modern Mining Surge
Two-thirds of that gold was extracted only after 1950. Thanks to technology, we’ve produced more gold in the last 70 years than in the thousands of years of civilization before it.
3. Where is it Hiding?
45% Jewelry & Art: Ornamental and cultural value.
Central Bank Reserves: Massive amounts stored in high-security vaults as a "store of value."
Industrial Use: A tiny fraction used in electronics and medical tech.
4. Why Does it Hold Value?
Absolute Scarcity: You cannot "print" more gold. Its supply is limited by physics.
Indestructibility: Gold doesn't corrode. It’s the ultimate "long-term storage."
Universal Consensus: Every civilization agrees on its value.
5. The Great Paradox
We spend billions to dig it out of the ground, only to bury it back underground in high-tech vaults. Its value isn't in what it does, but in the fact that it exists and is hard to acquire—the original Proof of Work.
Final Thought:
As we move further into the digital age, the parallels between Gold’s physical scarcity and $BTC digital scarcity are impossible to ignore. Is Gold still the king of assets, or has the digital era found a better alternative?
What’s your hedge against inflation? Let’s discuss below!
