Investors are increasingly pouring money into non-productive gold, raising alarm for the global economy while BTC lags behind.
Oct 17, 2025, 5:54 a.m.
Gold (XAU), a traditional store of value but also a “non-productive” asset, has surged to a market capitalization exceeding $30 trillion in 2025, dwarfing digital gold, bitcoin, and U.S.-listed tech giants alike.
The yellow metal’s price per ounce has surged 66% to a record high of approximately $4,380, with prices rising 13% in October alone, according to TradingView data.
This rally has pushed gold’s market capitalization to about $30.42 trillion, based on an estimated above-ground global supply of 216,265 metric tonnes, as reported by the World Gold Council.
Nvidia (NVDA), arguably the most consequential company globally due to its foundational role in powering the AI revolution, holds a distant second place with a market capitalization of $4.42 trillion. It is followed by Microsoft (MSFT), Apple (AAPL), Alphabet (Google), silver, Amazon (AMZN).
Meanwhile, bitcoin BTC$107,874.19, considered digital gold, ranked eighth with a market cap of $2.17 trillion.
Non-Productive Gold Warns of Economic Strain
Gold’s premium to tech giants doesn’t necessarily reflect a positive outlook for the global economy because it is a non-productive asset.
Unlike stocks, bonds, or real estate, gold does not generate dividends, interest, or rent, nor does it contribute directly to economic activity. Its price is directly tied to its appeal as a traditional safe haven and store of value asset as opposed to underlying cash flow or productive output.
So, the fact that it trades at a significant premium to the most valuable tech companies is likely a telltale sign of economic malaise. It indicates that investors are seeking refuge in perceived safe havens amid broader economic uncertainty.
Ken Griffin, CEO of Citadel, recently expressed significant concern over the trend of investors viewing gold as a safer asset than the U.S. dollar, calling the yellow metal’s record rally as cautionary signal about the U.S. economy’s stability.
According to analysis, the rally has been catalyzed by fiscal imprudence in the U.S. and across the advanced world, sticky inflation, geopolitical tensions and expectations for the Fed rate cuts. The consensus is for the uptrend to continue.
Features that describe gold as a non-productive store of value also apply to bitcoin. However, while gold’s price has rallied sharply this year, surging over 60%, bitcoin has gained a more modest 16% in 2025. Industry observers are optimistic that when the gold rally eventually cools, investment funds may rotate into the relatively cheaper digital store of value.
AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk’s full AI Policy.
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