New surveys show central banks are ditching the dollar and buying more gold instead — should you follow along?

Laura Grande

Sun, August 16, 2026 at 1:20 PM GMT+3 8 min read

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Central banks are still piling into gold — and new surveys suggest they're also preparing to reduce their exposure to the U.S. dollar over the longer term.

That's the takeaway from a new survey (1) of global reserve managers. The Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum (OMFIF) says it's the first time its survey has found more central banks planning to reduce their dollar exposure over the next decade than increase it.

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At the same time, OMFIF found gold remains the reserve asset central banks are most interested in adding.

The findings were reinforced by a separate 2026 World Gold Council survey (2). It found 74% of respondents expect the dollar's share of global reserves to fall over the next five years, while 89% expect global central bank gold holdings to rise over the next year. A record 45% also expect to increase their own gold holdings.

It's a notable shift for a financial system built around the dollar for decades.

The U.S. currency still dominates global finance. It remains the largest component of central bank reserves, and demand for U.S. Treasury bonds remains strong. The dollar still has one big advantage: reserve managers see it as hard to beat on safety and liquidity. So this looks less like a breakup with the dollar and more like central banks spreading their bets.

Gold, meanwhile, is becoming a bigger part of the mix. Central banks have bought an average of about 1,000 tonnes a year over the past four years — roughly double the pace of the previous decade.

Rather than walking away from the dollar, many appear to be hedging their bets.

Reserve managers cited concerns including geopolitical tensions, government debt and changing global trade relationships as reasons to look beyond a single currency. OMFIF found geopolitical risk is becoming an increasingly important reason for central banks to hold gold, with 51% of respondents citing it as a motivation for gold purchases, up from 40% in 2024.

For some countries, holding more gold or other currencies is simply a way to avoid placing too much faith in a single financial system.

Gold, in particular, has benefited from that thinking.

Gold has been volatile, falling from above $5,500 an ounce in January to below $4,000 in June. But central banks have continued buying, underscoring the strong demand for gold as a reserve asset.

And Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio has made a similar argument, writing in Time (3) that "gold is a money" that is "least at risk of being devalued." He has argued that investors should think of gold as a diversifier rather than a replacement for traditional assets.

But individual investors should be careful about drawing a direct comparison.

A central bank managing billions of dollars in reserves has very different goals from someone building a retirement portfolio. Governments need liquidity and stability. Investors usually need long-term growth.

Still, there is one idea that applies to both: Putting all your eggs in one basket can create problems.

That's why some people have been looking beyond traditional stocks and bonds and adding other asset classes to their portfolios.

Here are three options investors are exploring to diversify their portfolios.

Gold has been getting attention from central banks

Central banks aren't the only ones watching gold. Supporters of gold often point to its long history as a store of value, especially during periods of rising inflation or weakening currency confidence.

The appetite for gold doesn't seem to be fading, either. The World Gold Council found 84% of respondents expect gold to make up a larger share of reserves over the next five years. OMFIF found a net 30% of reserve managers expect to increase their gold allocations over the next one to two years.

And some investors are turning to precious metals as a way to add another type of asset to their retirement savings. One option is a self-directed Gold IRA, which allows eligible investors to hold IRS-approved gold and silver inside a retirement account.

This is where companies like Goldco come in.

For investors interested in exploring this option, opening a gold IRA with the help of Goldco allows you to invest in gold and other precious metals in physical forms while also providing the significant tax advantages of an IRA.

With a minimum purchase of $10,000, Goldco offers free shipping and access to a library of retirement resources. And the best part? The company will match up to 10% of qualified purchases in free silver.

If you're curious whether this is the right investment to diversify your portfolio, you can download your free gold and silver information guide today.

But while gold has its advantages, it doesn't pay dividends or interest and its price can rise and fall based on investor demand, economic conditions and global events.

For that reason, many financial professionals view precious metals as one piece of a broader investment strategy rather than a replacement for traditional assets.

Real estate exposure without the hefty down payment

Real estate is another asset class investors often consider when looking beyond the stock market.

But owning a rental property isn't for everyone. Along with the upfront cost, landlords have to deal with maintenance, vacancies, repairs and the day-to-day responsibilities that come with managing a property.

Rental properties have long been a proven source of steady, passive income for high-net-worth investors. It's no wonder that real estate accounts for nearly 25% of the typical family office portfolio.

However, the time, effort and costs involved in managing and maintaining multiple properties prevent many from getting in on this asset class.

That's where mogul can help fill this market void.

This real estate investment platform offers fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits — without the need for a hefty down payment or 3 a.m. tenant calls.

Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team handpicks the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. Simply put, you can invest in institutional-quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.

Depending on the investment, those opportunities can include multifamily housing, office space and industrial properties.

Each property undergoes a vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in downside scenarios. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Their cash-on-cash yields, meanwhile, average between 10% and 12% annually. Offerings often sell out in under three hours, with investments typically ranging between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.

Investors may receive income distributions and could benefit from property appreciation, although private real estate investments can be less liquid than publicly traded investments and returns are not guaranteed.

And if you'd rather focus on income than individual properties, there are other options.

For example, the Arrived Real Estate Income Fund is designed to generate regular dividend income while focusing on capital preservation.

The fund already manages more than $83 million in assets and has historically delivered an annualized cash yield of more than 8.1%. To put this in perspective, even the "aristocrats" of dividend stocks struggle to reach a high-water mark of 5.51%, according to Morningstar (4).

How it works is simple: Arrived offers short-term loans for professional real estate projects seeking to renovate, refinance or fund new construction. Each loan goes through a disciplined selection process and is backed by residential real estate, adding another layer of underwriting rigor and downside protection.

Even better, Arrived Real Estate Income Fund investors also have quarterly liquidity options beginning six months after their initial investment, offering more flexibility than many traditional income-focused investments.

More ways to diversify your portfolio

For investors with portfolios of $250,000 or more, financial decisions often become increasingly nuanced.

Managing withdrawals, minimizing tax exposure, and ensuring long-term sustainability often requires greater coordination and strategic planning.

In these cases, working with a financial advisor can help reduce costly mistakes.

If your portfolio hits this watermark, platforms like WiserAdvisor can connect you with vetted professionals who specialize in this kind of planning.

Simply answer a few questions about your savings, retirement timeline and overall investment portfolio.

From there, WiserAdvisor reviews its network to match you — for free — with up to three vetted, reputable advisors aligned with your specific needs.

You can then schedule no-obligation consultations with your matches to determine who is the best fit for your long-term goals.

WiserAdvisor is a matching service and does not provide financial advice directly. All matched advisors are third parties, and specific financial results are not guaranteed.

New surveys show central banks are ditching the dollar and buying more gold instead — should you follow along?

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Gold has been getting attention from central banks

Real estate exposure without the hefty down payment

More ways to diversify your portfolio

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