Did "Gold Exposure" Rob You Of 27%?
Aug 15, 2025
Gold Exposure Is Not Gold Ownership — Here’s Why That Matters in 2025
Investors love talking about gold exposure. They buy mining stocks, supplier equities, logistics companies, ETFs, even equipment manufacturers — all in the name of participating in the gold and silver economy.
But here’s the strange part: many never buy the actual gold or silver.
Why not?
It’s a question worth asking — especially now, when gold was up 27% last year and both gold and silver seen 27% in 2025. Over the past couple of decades, gold has averaged 8–10% annual growth. Silver has seen even sharper spikes in certain years.
If your goal is to benefit from these returns, why stop at “exposure”? Why not own the actual thing?
What Investors Mean by 'Gold Exposure'
When people talk about how to get gold exposure, they usually mean one of four approaches:
Mining stocks — Shares in companies that extract gold or silver.
Refining and logistics companies — Businesses moving metal from mine to market.
Equipment suppliers — Selling technology and materials to the mining sector.
ETFs and futures contracts — Paper claims that follow spot prices.
These options have their place. Mining stocks can offer leveraged gains when gold prices rise. ETFs are simple to buy and sell. Supply chain companies can profit in bull markets.
But here’s the reality: all of these are indirect. They’re not gold.
Gold Exposure vs. Owning Gold
The difference between gold exposure and owning gold comes down to one thing: control.
Mining stocks can fall even when gold rises if operations miss targets or costs soar due to fuel costs or tariffs.
ETFs often don’t grant you rights to specific ounces — they’re financial products, not vault receipts.
Futures contracts expire and roll over, adding costs and complexity.
If gold is meant to be your hedge against systemic risk, why would you choose a derivative instead of the asset itself?
Why Gold Performs — and Why Exposure Falls Short
Gold has outpaced inflation for decades, averaging 8–10% annual growth. In 2024 it rose 27% and again in 2025 already. In certain crisis years — like 2008, 2011, and 2023 — gold and silver surged far faster than equities.
But here’s the catch: many “gold exposure” investments underperform the metal itself because of unrelated factors — company management, operating costs, debt, or market downturns that drag on stock prices even when the commodity is rising. Some ETFs don't even keep up with actual appreciation of gold!
The Old Argument Against Owning Gold
Historically, investors chose indirect gold exposure because:
Liquidity — You could sell a stock or ETF instantly. Physical gold took time.
Storage — Bullion needed safekeeping and insurance.
Usability — You couldn’t easily “spend” a gold bar.
These were valid points — until now.
The New Way: Digital Gold Exposure Backed by Physical Metal
STBL Gold and STBL Silver give you direct ownership of fully allocated, vaulted ounces — with the same liquidity as a stock or cryptocurrency.
True asset backing — Each token is tied to specific ounces stored securely.
Instant liquidity — Trade 24/7 without waiting for physical settlement.
Global portability — Move ownership across borders instantly via blockchain.
Spendability — Soon, you’ll be able to use your gold or silver for purchases directly.
This isn’t paper gold. This is digital gold exposure with physical gold ownership.
Why Now Is the Time to Rethink Gold Exposure
When crises hit, those with actual gold benefit most. We’ve seen it time and again:
2008 — After Lehman Brothers collapsed, gold climbed from under $800 to over $1,200 in a year.
2011 — Silver spiked to nearly $50 per ounce.
March 2023 — The Silicon Valley Bank collapse sent silver demand so high that delivery times stretched to 6–8 weeks and premiums doubled.
In every case, the people who owned the metal — not just exposure — were positioned best.
Bottom Line — Make Your Gold Exposure the Real Thing
If you’re looking for the best way to get gold exposure, it’s simple: own the gold.
With STBL, you get the security of physical ownership, the flexibility of instant trading, and the future-proof potential of spending your gold anywhere.
No mining risk. No counterparty risk. No “IOUs.”
Just gold — in your portfolio, under your control.
Buy STBL Gold or STBL Silver today and turn your gold exposure into real ownership.