As global financial instability grows and political tensions intensify, the world’s ultra-rich are increasingly relocating their gold holdings to Singapore—a city now seen as one of the safest jurisdictions for physical assets.
The shift comes amid rising volatility under the Trump administration and concerns over banking system reliability in several regions. Private vault operators in Singapore, including The Reserve, have reported a surge in demand, with gold storage orders up 88% and sales of precious metals rising 200% in the first four months of 2025 compared to a year ago.
Gregor Gregersen, founder of The Reserve, attributes this surge to the elite’s desire for secure, non-bank-controlled physical storage. “We’re seeing an overwhelming majority of new gold orders—around 90%—coming from outside Singapore,” he noted.
Gold’s appeal as a safe-haven asset has intensified following a global sell-off and ongoing U.S.-China trade turbulence. While spot prices cooled slightly to $3,346.32 per ounce, forecasts suggest it could hit $5,000 next year.
Experts say wealthy individuals are choosing physical bars over paper gold due to lower counterparty risk—especially after the 2023 Silicon Valley Bank crisis. Many investors now avoid banking institutions entirely for storage, preferring private facilities like those in Singapore, Switzerland, and Dubai.
Described as the “Geneva of the East,” Singapore’s political stability, efficient infrastructure, and status as a global transit hub make it an increasingly favored destination for discreet and secure gold storage.
