Russia has reportedly sold off 70%+ of the gold held in its National Wealth Fund — reducing reserves from 500+ tons to approximately 170–180 tons.
This wasn’t done for optimization.
It was done out of necessity.
🧠 WHY THIS MATTERS
Gold is the last line of defense for sanctioned states. When a country starts offloading it:
• Fiscal pressure is acute
• Sanctions are intensifying
• Budget gaps are widening
• Long-term currency vulnerability rises
Once gold buffers erode, policymakers lose one of the few tools left to anchor inflation and confidence.
🌍 GLOBAL IMPLICATIONS
• Additional gold supply entering markets
• Increased volatility in precious metals
• Clear confirmation the war is financial, not just military
This isn’t a display of strength.
It’s balance-sheet erosion under pressure.
📉 History is clear:
Nations don’t sell gold preemptively. They sell it when options are diminishing.
So the real question is 👇
Does this significantly weaken Russia long term —
or does it signal the opening move in a deeper phase of financial escalation?
