Gold has served countries and individuals as a medium of exchange for centuries. Paper money issued by governments from the 17th century to the 20th century was expressed in gold and had an important place in the economy around a gold standard.

Gold also represents a commodity used in the pharmaceutical, jewelry and electronics industries, and has attracted attention as a method of protection against inflation or recession for institutional and individual investors.

The frequent use of gold in international trade in the past years has made it necessary for countries to have a gold reserve for both economic and political reasons.

Although no government today has to back its fiat currency with gold, governments still aim to increase gold reserves against hyperinflation or geopolitical risks.

In this context, the world's largest economies also keep gold in their safes.