Digital gold market could reach $170 billion by 2031

A World Gold Council and Boston Consulting Group report estimates that digital gold could grow from a current market of $45 billion to $55 billion to $160 billion to $170 billion by 2031 in its base-case scenario, with annual growth of about 27%. The projection depends on the industry addressing barriers to adoption, including trust, access, product utility and cost. The report, published October 19, also estimates up to $700 billion in latent demand if those barriers are removed. That figure represents potential demand, not a forecast of market size, and the researchers assigned it no target year. It assumes investors respond fully under conditions in which obstacles disappear. The study’s other scenarios put the 2031 market at $270 billion to $280 billion if adoption barriers fall faster, or $70 billion to $80 billion if they largely persist. These are modeled estimates of total market value. The researchers say the projections assume gold prices remain broadly stable and do not account for a major hack, custody failure or large-issuer fraud. The report draws on a survey of more than 12,000 consumers across 12 markets and interviews with 20 industry experts. Nearly nine in...