Why is China considering a gold-guaranteed sovereign digital currency?

Answer

A gold-guaranteed currency provides a **"hard-asset" anchor** in an era of fiat excess. According to Munawar, it serves three critical strategic purposes:

• Immediate Credibility: In an era of global economic uncertainty, gold offers a tangible reassurance that the digital currency has intrinsic, stable value.
• Reserve Competition: It positions the yuan not just as another fiat option but as a hybrid instrument that competes with the U.S. dollar as a global reserve asset.
• Sanctions Hedge: A gold-backed currency allows countries to bypass dollar-based financial systems, protecting them from "dollar weaponization" and geopolitical freezes.

By backing its digital currency with gold, China can attract Global South nations that are looking for a secure, non-Western alternative for their sovereign reserves.