Bitcoin's Rise May Offer False Security, Warns State Street's Gold Strategist

According to Odaily, George Milling-Stanley, the Chief Gold Strategist at State Street Global Advisors, has issued a warning about the recent surge in Bitcoin, suggesting it may provide investors with a false sense of security. He emphasized that Bitcoin lacks the stability that gold offers, describing it as a 'return play' that investors are chasing. His comments coincide with the 20th anniversary of the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD), the world's largest physically-backed gold ETF, which has seen a rise of over 30% in 2024. Milling-Stanley highlighted the significant growth in gold prices over the past two decades, noting that the price of gold has increased fivefold from $450 per ounce to its current value. He speculated that if this trend continues, gold prices could exceed $100,000 per ounce in the next 20 years. He advised investors who value the security of gold to reconsider making substantial investments in Bitcoin, suggesting that the cryptocurrency market is attempting to manipulate perceptions. He criticized the terminology used by Bitcoin promoters, particularly the term 'mining,' which he believes is misleading as it implies a similarity to gold. He argued that Bitcoin mining is merely a computer operation and lacks the intrinsic value associated with gold. Despite his skepticism about Bitcoin, Milling-Stanley acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the future trajectory of gold prices. He admitted that it is difficult to predict how high gold prices might climb, but expressed confidence in gold's performance over the long term. He concluded by stating that the journey over the next two decades will be interesting and that he expects gold to continue performing well.