$XAU Russian Gold Sale… Crisis or Smart Strategy? $PAXG

Whenever a central bank sells gold, people immediately assume there’s a crisis. But looking closely at Russia’s January 2026 balance sheet, this move feels more calculated than desperate.

This wasn’t about losing faith in gold. With prices near $4,700 per ounce, selling 300,000 ounces and generating around $1.4 billion looks more like smart profit-taking and liquidity management.

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