$181 billion gold ETF reveals investment boom, gold rebound far exceeds March crash

Gate News: Despite gold prices plummeting over 13.6% in March, gold prices rebounded above $4,550 per ounce on Wednesday, indicating that the market is beginning to regain confidence. Reports suggest that signs of the U.S. efforts to end the Iran war have eased investor concerns, while oil prices fell to $86.72 per barrel.

However, demand for gold ETFs remains strong, highlighting investors’ focus on the long-term value of precious metals. Data shows that the assets under management (AUM) of SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) have increased to approximately $181 billion, nearing a record high, and have doubled within less than a year. This indicates that despite short-term price fluctuations, market interest in gold remains robust. The Kobeissi Letter notes that since Q2 2025, retail investors have purchased over $70 billion worth of gold ETFs, with the fund’s holdings soaring over 500% in the past eight years.

GLD’s gold reserves also continue to grow, currently around 1,098 tons—its highest level since April 2022—and have increased by about 274 tons since March 2024. Nevertheless, this is still below the 1,351-ton record set in December 2012, suggesting that there is still room for increased holdings if market sentiment further improves.

Recent geopolitical tensions had previously driven selling pressure on gold, but the growth in ETF holdings and assets under management demonstrates investors’ long-term optimism for precious metals. BeInCrypto points out that even during market turbulence in March, GLD showed strong resilience, reflecting ongoing investor preference for gold ETFs as a safe-haven asset.

Overall, the $181 billion in GLD assets tells a different story from the March gold crash: while short-term prices fluctuate, long-term investment demand remains strong, providing a stable signal for safe-haven assets beyond cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC).