Fed Balance Sheet Grows to $6.675 Trillion as Gold Holdings Surpass Treasuries

In a sign of renewed monetary support amid persistent market uncertainty, the U.S. Federal Reserve expanded its balance sheet by 18 billion dollars in the latest week, bringing the total to 6.675 trillion dollars. This growth, reported as of early April 2026, coincides with a landmark shift in global reserves, where central banks' collective gold holdings have surpassed 4 trillion dollars in value, exceeding the 3.9 trillion dollars in U.S. Treasury securities held by foreign governments for the first time.

The Federal Reserve's balance sheet increase marks a return to expansion following the end of quantitative tightening in 2025. Officials have not fully unwound the asset purchases from the pandemic era, instead stabilizing at an elevated level before resuming gradual growth. This reflects controlled easing of financial conditions, with short-term Treasury bill purchases reaching 381 billion dollars, a figure higher than during the 2020 crisis. Policymakers aim to bolster market stability through these measures, which provide liquidity without aggressive intervention.

Complementing the Fed's actions, the U.S. Treasury completed its largest-ever debt buyback on April 2, 2026,...