Gold is projected to surpass $3,000 per ounce in 2025, driven by strong macroeconomic and geopolitical factors.

At the heart of gold's potential surge is the current macroeconomic landscape that’s characterized by persistent inflation and anticipated monetary policy shifts. Inflation rates in the U.S. are expected to remain above the Federal Reserve's target of 2%, creating an environment in which gold is expected to serve as a crucial hedge against currency devaluation. When inflation erodes purchasing power, investors often turn to gold to preserve their wealth.

Moreover, the Federal Reserve has signaled a shift toward monetary easing, with market expectations indicating potential interest rate cuts in the coming months. Lower interest rates decrease the opportunity cost of holding gold, making it a more attractive investment as compared to interest-bearing assets, such as bonds and savings accounts. With real interest rates projected to remain low or even go negative, gold could experience renewed demand as a safe store of value.

Geopolitical tensions further bolster gold’s appeal. Ongoing conflicts, particularly the strained U.S.-China relationship and the Russia-Ukraine war, create an atmosphere of uncertainty that drives investors toward safe-haven assets. During times of geopolitical instability, gold has historically seen increased demand as investors seek to mitigate risks associated with market volatility.

As global tensions escalate, the demand for gold is likely to rise, reinforcing its status as a reliable hedge against financial instability. Investors tend to flock to gold during crises, viewing it as a secure asset that retains its intrinsic value, especially when other markets are under pressure.

Another significant factor contributing to the bullish outlook for gold is the unprecedented demand from central banks around the world. In 2024, central banks collectively purchased over 1,000 metric tons of gold, marking one of the highest levels of accumulation in recent history. This trend is expected to continue into 2025, particularly among countries like China and Russia that are actively reducing their reliance on U.S. dollar reserves as part of a broader de-dollarization strategy.

This central bank buying provides a strong structural support for gold prices, minimizing downside risks. As these institutions accumulate more gold, the resulting scarcity in the market could lead to higher prices. The growing demand from central banks underscores the renewed confidence in gold as a strategic reserve asset, especially amidst economic volatility and geopolitical tensions.

From a technical perspective, gold is currently in a robust uptrend, trading above key moving averages and nearing critical resistance levels. If gold successfully breaks through the psychological barrier of $3,000 per ounce, momentum could carry it toward higher price targets, potentially reaching $3,200 or even $3,500. 

, such as relative strength index (RSI) and moving average convergence divergence (MACD), suggest that gold remains in a bullish phase, indicating further upside potential.

As gold approaches these key resistance points, technical traders will closely monitor its price movements. A successful breach of the $3,000 level could trigger momentum buying, propelling prices higher as investor confidence grows.

Finally, rising investor sentiment plays a crucial role in gold’s potential price surge. Increased inflows into gold-backed 

 (ETFs), in addition to speculative positioning in futures markets, reflect strong confidence among both retail and institutional investors. As ETF holdings rise, it signals renewed interest in gold as a safe-haven investment.

This optimism is bolstered by a general shift in market sentiment as investors are increasingly turning to gold amid concerns over economic stability and inflation. The combination of robust technical indicators, macroeconomic pressures and favorable investor sentiment positions gold favorably for a significant price increase in 2025.

In summary, gold is well-positioned to reach $3,000 per ounce in 2025, driven by a combination of persistent inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, strong central bank demand and positive technical indicators. As investors seek refuge in safe-haven assets, gold’s intrinsic value and historical performance during times of crisis will make it an attractive option for preserving wealth. The confluence of these factors suggests that gold's upward trajectory could continue, making 2025 a pivotal year for this precious metal.

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Bybit Commodity Insight Report: Why Gold Is Poised to Reach $3,000 in 2025

Our weekly crypto derivatives analytics report delves into macro events, the current state of crypto and trading signals from spot trading volume, as well as futures, options and perpetual contracts.

Macro headwinds are impacting the crypto market, with a sell-off that began over the weekend deepening this week. BTC, ETH and most altcoins are declining alongside equities, gold and treasury yields, though derivatives markets are showing little bearish sentiment or increased volatility expectations. Among perpetuals, there are record consistent positive rates across most markets, indicating a reset in positioning. Meanwhile, ETH retains a volatility premium over BTC, but its term structure hasn’t inverted as sharply as in earlier sell-offs this month.

Please check out the report’s highlights.

Funding Rates Largely Positive Amid Sell-Off

Despite risk-off sentiment across asset classes this weekend and early this past week, USDT-denominated perpetual contracts have shown their most consistently positive funding rates within the past month. While these rates haven't reached the bullish levels of early December 2024, most have returned to a neutral level of 0.01%, signaling a reset in positioning due to recent market movements.

Tuesday's intensified risk-off sell-off led to a significant spike in BTC put trade volume as traders hedged against further declines. Unlike ETH, which leans bullish on calls, BTC's open interest is balanced between upside and downside protection. The volatility term structure is flat again, typical during sharp market moves, but this reflects a decline in longer-dated options, rather than a rise in short-term expectations.

As the sell-off in risk-on assets deepened this past week, ETH outperformed BTC. ETH derivatives markets are showing stronger sentiment, with higher call trade volumes indicating greater demand for upside positioning as compared to puts. However, ETH's volatility term structure has inverted more sharply than BTC's, as seen in previous significant market moves since last November (2024), with front-end volatility levels 15 points above those of BTC options with a similar tenor.

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Bybit X Block Scholes Crypto Derivatives Analytics Report (Feb 26, 2025): Reset in Sentiment Brewing as Fund Rates Turn Positive

Explore four essential tips to help you accumulate more points, optimize your strategy and claim the best rewards in EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge.

With the rise of gamified crypto events, EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge stands out as one of the most exciting opportunities for users to earn rewards while engaging with both Bybit and Mantle Network. This limited-time event offers participants a shot at a 1,000,000 MNT prize pool when they complete on-chain and trading-related tasks. 

To help you maximize your rewards and ensure you get the most out of this event, in this guide we’ll break down four essential tips to help you accumulate more points, optimize your strategy and claim the best rewards in EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge.

EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge is a limited-time campaign that rewards participants with a share of a 1,000,000 MNT prize pool when they complete both Bybit and on-chain tasks. Players earn "wishes" that can be used to enter Lucky Draws or climb the leaderboard for greater rewards.

This campaign, hosted by Bybit in collaboration with Mantle, blends gamification with 

 engagement, offering users multiple ways to win. Participants can choose to rely on chance via the Lucky Draw or strategically allocate their wishes to compete on the leaderboard. The event runs from Mar 6, 2025 to Mar 27, 2025, making it a limited-time opportunity to accumulate rewards while exploring the Mantle ecosystem.

4 Tips to Maximize Your Wishes and Rewards in EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge

To make the most out of EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge, you need to strategize your wish allocation, complete as many tasks as possible and take advantage of all available earning mechanisms. Here are four essential tips to maximize your rewards:

One of the best ways to earn high-value rewards in EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge is by competing on the leaderboard. There are a total of five rounds, and the rewards are higher with each passing round. 

The more wishes you allocate toward leaderboard rankings, the higher your position and the larger your rewards. However, since the leaderboard is dynamic, your rank can change based on the activity of other participants.

Since leaderboard positions fluctuate, it’s recommended that you monitor your ranking regularly and adjust your strategy accordingly. Players who accumulate the most wishes by the end of each leaderboard round will receive the greatest rewards.

 that each round’s rewards and wishes are calculated independently, and any wishes spent in a round won’t carry over to the next round.

If you prefer an element of surprise, the Lucky Draw is your best bet. By spending wishes on Lucky Draw attempts, you earn the chance to win instant prizes. The Lucky Draw operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so the earlier you participate, the better your chances of securing top-tier rewards.

Since rewards are limited, it's advisable to use your wishes early before the top prizes run out.

An easy way to earn free points in this campaign is by holding Mantle (MNT) and/or Mantle Restaked ETH (cmETH) in your Bybit account. By simply keeping these assets in your wallet, you’ll receive additional wishes, increasing your chances of winning more rewards.

This passive method of earning wishes ensures that you accumulate extra points without actively completing tasks, making it one of the simplest ways to boost your rewards.

Another hidden gem for doubling your rewards in EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge is through Layer 3. Participants who complete specific Layer 3 quests will receive extra bonuses, including double rewards on certain tasks.

By leveraging Layer 3 bonuses, you can significantly boost your total wish count, increasing your chances of securing leaderboard positions or hitting big wins in the Lucky Draw.

If you’re looking for a fun and rewarding way to engage with the Mantle ecosystem, EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge is definitely an event worth joining. With 1,000,000 MNT up for grabs, both casual users and seasoned traders can benefit from this campaign.

The event's dual-reward system allows participants to tailor their strategy based on their preferences. Whether you enjoy the thrill of luck-based rewards or prefer the competitive edge of leaderboard climbing, this campaign offers something for everyone.

Additionally, holding MNT and cmETH provides passive earnings, while Layer 3 integration presents an opportunity for double rewards — making the experience even more lucrative for active participants.

EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge is a limited-time, gamified rewards campaign that blends trading, staking and on-chain interactions. By completing tasks, holding Mantle assets and strategically using your wishes, you can maximize your rewards and secure your share of the 1,000,000 MNT prize pool.

This event runs from Mar 6, 2025 to 27, 2025, so now is the best time to get started. Are you ready to explore the Mantle ecosystem and claim your rewards? Join EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge today!

Beginner

how to participate in ecogalaxy mantle surge

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Join Bybit’s AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle, vote for top AI projects and compete for a share of a $1M prize pool. Earn rewards while shaping the future of AI in crypto.

The Bybit AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle is an exciting and innovative trading and voting event that aims to identify and support high-potential AI projects within the cryptocurrency space.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize blockchain technology, this competition offers users a unique opportunity to engage with emerging AI-driven crypto projects while earning substantial rewards of up to $1 million.

 (AI) and cryptocurrency is reshaping blockchain and 

 — autonomous programs powered by machine learning — are revolutionizing the sector by automating trading strategies, optimizing portfolio management and executing on-chain decisions with minimal human input.

These intelligent agents analyze vast datasets, identify market trends and execute trades in real time, significantly enhancing efficiency and reducing risks in the volatile crypto market. Their role extends beyond trading, influencing DeFi protocols, NFT markets and blockchain governance.

Bybit is at the forefront of this AI-driven transformation, launching the 

 to spotlight high-potential AI projects. This event provides a launchpad for groundbreaking AI applications, connecting innovators with a global crypto audience.

What Is the Bybit AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle?

Bybit is launching a unique AI trading event designed to highlight the most promising AI-driven crypto projects.

AI is revolutionizing crypto markets, with automated trading bots now executing over 60% of all crypto transactions. The integration of AI and blockchain is unlocking new trading strategies, DeFi innovations and web3 applications, making the AI sector one of the most promising in crypto.

Bybit’s AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle bridges AI and blockchain, providing a global stage for emerging projects to gain exposure to a global audience. Participants play an active role in shaping the future of AI in crypto while earning rewards.

How to Participate in the AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle

Campaign Period: Feb 28, 2025, 10AM UTC – Mar 27, 2025, 10AM UTC

Bybit users can support AI projects and earn rewards by participating in this AI-powered trading competition. Here's a step-by-step guide to joining:

Projects earn voting points from the following ways:

By actively trading and voting, participants not only have a chance to earn from the $1 million prize pool, but will also play a crucial role in shaping the future of AI in the crypto industry.

Bybit's AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle offers an exciting $1 million prize pool, with multiple ways for participants to win rewards.

The breakdown of how votes are allocated for Bybit Spot is as follows:

The breakdown of how votes are allocated for Bybit Web3 is as follows:

The maximum number of daily votes that a user can receive is 100,400 (50,200 for Bybit Spot and Web3 respectively).

By trading, voting and engaging in the competition, participants not only support innovative AI projects but also receive a chance to maximize their earnings in this high-stakes trading battle.

Bybit's AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle offers a distinctive platform that connects cryptocurrency traders with AI innovators. Participants are invited to support leading AI projects, earn attractive rewards and contribute to shaping the future of AI within the crypto ecosystem. 

 and be part of the AI-driven revolution on Bybit!

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How to Participate in Bybit’s AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle

Everyone has opinions on NFTs. Whether you think they're just another fad or the next big thing in the cryptoverse, here's a snapshot of the hottest NFT trends that we’re likely to see more of in 2022. 

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). For some, they’re just another fad that’ll fizzle out any day now. For others, they’re the next big thing in the cryptoverse. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, there’s no denying digital collectibles like these are going to continue their impact on the crypto market in 2022. 

NFTs first rose to prominence in early 2021, when 

 for a record-shattering $69 million at Christie’s auction house. That milestone opened the floodgates and led to countless headlines, involving more non-fungible assets such as 

. NFTs were such a hot topic in 2021 – be it on mainstream newspapers or major social media platforms – that the 

 ended up selecting the acronym as its word of the year. 

Besides their impact on the general population, NFTs have also opened up a whole new world for blockchain technology, with new developments in 

As developers come up with more applications for the technology, the popularity of NFTs shows no signs of slowing. To give you an idea of where the market may trend, we’ve taken a snapshot of the latest and hottest trends that we’re likely to see more of in 2022. 

Beeple’s record-breaking NFT coup was far from the only high-profile NFT art sale reported in 2021. To quickly recap, a GIF of the Pop-Tarts®-bodied feline meme sensation 

 sold for 300 ETH (worth an estimated $590,000 at the time). A month later, in March 2021, a digital card displaying an image of a morph between Homer Simpson and Pepe the Frog called 

 sold for 205 ETH (equivalent to $320,000 at that time). 

 has become so popular that Sotheby’s Auction House launched a dedicated NFT marketplace called 

, which reportedly achieved almost $100 million in sales before the end of 2021. 

The hype didn’t just stop with crypto art, as 

 — algorithmically generated digital images of cartoon characters — quickly became the next big thing, with numerous avatars selling for millions of dollars. Perhaps the most famous examples of avatars from 2021 are the collections from 

, which count major celebrities such as 

An ape avatar by Bored Ape Yacht Club. Image source:

The staggering rise of NFTs in the art scene has naturally raised questions about what makes art valuable, the nature of ownership, and perhaps most importantly, what else we might expect in 2022 and beyond.

The trend going into 2022 appears to be buying and selling fractionalized NFTs of real-world artwork by famous artists. 

 for high-value crypto assets, but at a fraction of the cost. 

One event to watch for is the auction of NFTs representing a mural by iconic street artist 

, which was removed from a wall in Bristol, England, in September 2020. 

, the company that extracted the mural, is set to sell the graffitied wall this year as a collection of 10,000 fractionalized NFTs, each of which will sell for around $750. 

Following Exposed Wall’s example, another company, 

, is planning to launch the sale of NFT collections representing fine art masterpieces from around the world. Like Exposed Wall, Particle divides each individual art piece into a grid of 10,000 NFTs. The platform acquired the physical version of Banksy’s 2005 work, 

 for almost $12.9 million. The artwork will be the first to be fractionalized by Particle into 10,000 NFT parts, each one selling for just over $1,400, for a total value of $14 million.

Fractionalizing assets may sound like a strange model for ownership, but it’s actually started to gain traction in 2021. Picasso’s 

(valued at $3.68 million) was fractionalized into a collection of 

 (or $920 per fractionalized share). In addition, platforms like 

 are offering investors the opportunity to buy and sell fractionalized shares of individual multimillion-dollar works by blue-chip artists, including Banksy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Kaws (aka Brian Donnelly), and more. 

 isn’t without its flaws. However, art investors seem to be embracing the technology and exploring its possibilities for profit as the next evolution of fine art collecting.

This new model is also a boon for creative industries, enabling artists to monetize their work while providing a larger pool of people with the opportunity to invest. 

 will also be able to receive royalties from secondary sales

Besides revolutionizing the art world as we know it, NFT art has the potential to democratize and increase transparency in the annual 

Gaming was probably the second biggest area of development for NFTs in 2021. 

 (a portmanteau of gaming and finance, otherwise known as NFT gaming) paved the way for this development with blockchain-based play-to-earn games that reward players with in-game NFT assets. 

 (AXS) is the most popular game of the bunch, with reportedly over 

 worth of in-game assets traded on its platform. The game is inspired by Pokémon and features collectible pets called “Axies,” which are NFTs with a unique combination of abilities. The game also has its own in-game tokens, Axie 

 and Smooth Love Potion (SLP), which function as currency in the 

Illuvium is slated to be the first-ever AAA game on the blockchain. Image source:

Play-to-earn games aren’t the only projects in the GameFi space. There are also text-based games which use NFTs. For example, 

 is a community-created game template which features 8,000 distributed “loot bags” containing randomly generated lists of items, including weapons and other equipment of varying rarity, to be used in a game that will be designed by its online community. The items are collectible NFTs which are completely free (apart from associated gas fees). Loot is still under development, and there are currently no more details on the properties of the items that are minted in loot bags. 

One of the bigger changes caused by the Covid-19 pandemic is the model for how studios release and monetize new movies — as even blockbuster films now go straight to streaming. The television industry has similarly experienced change, as it adjusts to the popularity of nonlinear streaming viewing habits.

Streaming has completely revolutionized content delivery. But is having a middleman who controls what you can and can’t watch really the future of entertainment? Some crypto experts think NFTs are the next frontier — which could change how content is consumed. 

, an NFT TV show by House of Kibaa. Image source:

NFTs enable a whole new way to monetize, merchandise and crowdfund film/TV projects. Some big industry names have already started to release NFT TV shows, including: 

NFT TV shows are just one piece of a much larger puzzle. There are also TV shows that aren’t NFTs, but are based on NFT characters, such as the 

 TV series being developed by Time Studios, the film and TV production studio of 

 director Kevin Smith announced in April 2021 that he would be taking part in the NFT experiment by auctioning off his upcoming horror movie, 

 as an NFT. According to a statement from Smith, the studio that purchases the movie NFT can monetize it traditionally — or even choose never to screen it. 

Samsung’s MICRO LED smart TV is slated for a 2022 release and will feature an NFT platform. Image source:

NFTs have also found their way into TVs, quite literally, as Samsung 

 an “NFT Aggregation Platform” in its newest models of smart TVs (Neo QLED, MICRO LED, and The Frame TV models) scheduled for release in 2022. Viewers can use the feature to browse NFTs for sale on several marketplaces, and even buy them directly using their TV. 

It’s a pretty big endorsement for the NFT space, and perhaps the clearest sign that NFTs and the entertainment sector are only going to become more entwined in the future. 

The music industry has also caught the NFT bug. It’s no secret that it’s difficult for musicians to earn under the current system, with artists getting paid fractions of pennies per stream. Independent musicians are turning to NFTs as a new financial model that offers more creative freedom. The trend in 2022 appears to be more NFT albums and songs. 

Musician Daniel Allan, who was recently 

, is one example of an artist who has reportedly sold digital copies of his songs as NFTs for thousands of dollars each. Allan, who makes electro-pop music, uses platforms like 

 to showcase his work. Glass is a video streaming platform where every video is an NFT that’s owned by the creators, who get to decide how the content is monetized without any middlemen. 

Other ventures in the music industry include 

, which enable music lovers to earn a share of income collected every time a song in the platform’s catalog is performed. Band Royalty reportedly has 3,000 NFTs on its platform, with the long-term goal of having a total of 12,000 NFTs over the next 18 months. 

DJ 3LAU launched an NFT-based music platform called

that features NFT music by artists like Nas. Image source:

A famous example of an artist successfully selling an NFT album is DJ 3LAU, who released a crypto album that made 

 producer sold 33 unique NFTs of his album, 

 in an auction he announced on Twitter. His next project is an NFT-based music platform called 

, which lets fans purchase NFTs to share in royalties earned by their favorite musicians.

Other prominent artists who have shown interest in NFTs include rapper Meek Mill, who announced last year that he’s going to release an NFT mixtape in 2022. 

). The band dropped three different types of tokens: One was a special album package, the second offered perks like front-row concert seats for life, and the third contained exclusive audiovisual art.

As you can see from the examples above, this new formula has been tried and tested for success. It won’t be surprising if more big artists start releasing NFT versions of their albums as record labels jump on the NFT hype train.

It might sound like the only good potential use cases for NFTs are in digital art, media and gaming, but they go far beyond play-to-earn games and prohibitively expensive cartoon profile pictures. One up-and-coming use case is NFT loans. Investors are putting their NFTs and NFT collections to work by using them as collateral to obtain loans for emergencies and new potential investments. 

 platforms were launched in 2021 to facilitate loans using NFTs as collateral. For example, 

 platform that offers NFT-backed loans. The borrower and lender must first agree to the terms before the collection is locked in an escrow account facilitated by a 

 deployed by Arcade. The NFT(s) remains locked up and irretrievable until the loan is paid in full or defaulted.

NFT holders can put their individual pieces and collections to work on DeFi lending platforms like Arcade. Image source:

As of January 2022, Arcade reportedly supported 50+ NFT collections that have “

. The platform recently secured $15 million in Series A funding from notable crypto investors including Pantera Capital and Franklin Templeton. 

Another popular DeFi platform for NFT-backed loans is 

, a marketplace where users can put up NFT assets as collateral for loans or offer loans to other users. Any ERC-721 token can be used as collateral in exchange for a loan in 

. Once the loan is repaid, the NFT is transferred back to the borrower. If the loan defaults, then the asset is transferred to the lender. 

Brands in all industries have been coming up with creative ways to grab a slice of the NFT pie. Food brands likeCampbell’s, McDonald’s and Taco Bell, and fashion brands including Gucci, Nike and Louis Vuitton are leading the charge by releasing limited-edition NFT collectibles as a way to build brand loyalty, boost social media engagement, generate new revenue streams and raise money for charity. 

, a limited-edition digital collection of crypto-themed crisps with a “virtual flavor.” Limited to just 50 versions, the NFT is an MP4 file that shows an animated spinning golden Pringles can with the “CryptoCrisp” flavor.

The price for the CryptoCrisp NFTs started at 0.0013 ETH, or approximately $2, which is the price of a regular Pringles can. The NFTs are now available for prices starting at 4 ETH on 

6 Biggest NFT Trends to Look Out For (2022)

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