According to CoinMeta, gold traders face challenges in 2026 as metal prices have experienced sharp fluctuations from historical highs to a dramatic decline. Although gold prices fell by more than 18% after hitting a record high of around $5,589 on January 28, they are still above the 52-week low. Recently, gold prices have risen by over 7% as weak employment data and moderate inflation figures have reduced market expectations for a Fed interest rate hike in September. Analysts point out that central banks continue to increase their gold reserves, with China playing a leading role in this. According to reports from Caixin Global, the People's Bank of China added 19.9 tons of gold in July, the largest increase since the end of 2023, and this is the 21st consecutive month of reserve growth.