Gold ETFs Magnetic Pull: March Inflows Surge to Three-Year Highs
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While financial markets wobbled under the weight of trade tensions and geopolitical drama, gold ETFs have been on an absolute tear. Investors poured a staggering $8.6 billion into gold ETFs in March 2025 alone, capping off a quarter that saw $21.1 billion (226.5 tonnes) in total inflows. Yeah, you read that right. The largest quarterly inflow since Q1 2022.
February wasn't exactly a slouch either. With $9.4 billion flowing in, it marked the strongest monthly figure since March 2022. Turns out investors aren't just dipping their toes—they're diving headfirst into the gold pool. Month after month after month.
Investors aren't just flirting with gold ETFs—they're in a full-blown love affair that's getting hotter by the month.
The numbers tell a pretty clear story. January kicked things off with 87.3 tonnes. February added another 76.9. March contributed 62.3 more. That's consistency you can't ignore. ETF holdings jumped 3% during the quarter, pushing total holdings to near-record levels of 3,445.3 tonnes. Almost back to those pandemic panic days.
What's driving this gold rush? US trade policies gone wild, for one. Throw in some geopolitical chaos that's giving 2022's Ukraine invasion vibes, and you've got the perfect storm for safe-haven demand. Plus, the stock market‘s been acting like it's had too much caffeine—all that volatility has investors reaching for something solid.
Here's where it gets interesting. While gold ETFs were magnetic in March, Bitcoin ETFs bled $1.5 billion. Ouch. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) returned a juicy 19.2% in Q1 and 40.1% over 12 months, making Bitcoin's February nosedive of 17.4% look pretty sad. Many investors who previously avoided mining stocks are now considering them as record-high gold prices create compelling profit opportunities for gold producers.
LBMA OTC trading volume exploded to $136 billion daily in March, way up from 2024's $113 billion average. COMEX traders initially took profits but couldn't resist jumping back in, ending March with net longs at 804 tonnes.
The bottom line? Gold's shining brighter than it has in years. And investors can't get enough. Major investment firms are now recommending 5-10% gold allocation in diversified portfolios as protection against ongoing volatility.
