💰 Basel III, Gold, and the Great Financial Reset: What You Need to Know Now

Did you know that the world of money is undergoing one of the biggest shifts since the end of the gold standard back in the 1970s? While mainstream headlines focus on inflation and interest rates, deeper structural changes are taking place that could reshape how we save, invest, and transact.

At the heart of this shift is Basel III, a global banking reform quietly gaining momentum — especially in the United States and Canada. Combined with record gold buying by central banks, rising interest in blockchain networks like XRP, and the possible emergence of new financial systems, the signs point to one thing:

A transformation of the global monetary order is happening — and fast.

Here’s what’s really going on and how you can prepare.

🧱 What Is Basel III and Why Does It Matter?

Basel III is an international regulatory framework developed by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Its goal? Prevent another financial crisis like 2008 by improving banks’ capital requirements, risk exposure, and liquidity buffers.

But here’s where it gets interesting — Basel III has reclassified physical gold.

• Gold is now considered a Tier 1 asset, just like cash and government bonds which also means it has no counterparty risk

• Only fully allocated, physical gold counts — not paper gold or unallocated contracts.

• This incentivizes banks and financial institutions to hold real, physical bullion.

Banks will not be required to hold a specific amount of gold. However, the framework classifies physical (allocated) gold as a Tier 1 asset with a 0% risk weighting, making it more attractive for banks to hold physical gold over unallocated (paper) gold. This change incentivizes banks to increase their holdings of physical gold to strengthen their balance sheets and meet liquidity requirements.

📈 This change could create upward pressure on gold prices, as demand for physical gold rises and paper-based suppression (via futures markets) becomes less effective.

Source: IMG Trading Inc., published May 4, 2025

🇺🇸🇨🇦 Which North American Banks Are Involved?

Basel III implementation is underway in both the U.S. and Canada.

🇺🇸 U.S. Banks Subject to Basel III Include:

• JPMorgan Chase

• Bank of America

• Citigroup

• Wells Fargo

• Goldman Sachs

• Morgan Stanley

• State Street

• Bank of New York Mellon

These banks are Global Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs) and must follow the most stringent capital and liquidity standards.

🧱 The U.S. “Basel III Endgame” proposal (expected in 2025) will tighten rules even more — potentially increasing capital requirements by up to 16% for large institutions. (Read more)

🇨🇦 Canadian Banks Affected Include:

• Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)

• Toronto-Dominion (TD)

• Scotiabank

• Bank of Montreal (BMO)

• Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC)

Canada’s banking regulator, OSFI, has implemented Basel III fully, requiring strong capital and liquidity reserves from all major banks.

🌍 Why Are Central Banks Buying So Much Gold?

According to the World Gold Council, central banks have purchased more gold in the last two years than at any time in the past 50 years.

Why?

• 🔐 Hedge against currency debasement and inflation

• 🛡️ Shield from geopolitical instability and sanctions

• 📉 Reduce dependence on the U.S. dollar

• 🧱 Back their own currencies with hard assets

Even China, India, Turkey, and Russia are hoarding gold at unprecedented levels. This behavior suggests a pivot away from fiat money and a possible return to gold-influenced monetary systems.

🔗 Is XRP the Future of Global Payments?

Another big piece of the puzzle is XRP, the digital asset used by Ripple to facilitate fast, cross-border payments. Unlike SWIFT, which relies on pre-funded accounts and can take days to settle transactions, RippleNet with XRPenables near-instant global transfers with minimal fees.

• Over 100 financial institutions are already using RippleNet

• XRP could play a major role in bridging currencies and tokenized assets

• Ripple has worked with central banks to help build CBDC infrastructure (Learn more)

Could XRP replace SWIFT? Possibly — or at least become a major player in the new multi-asset financial system where speed, efficiency, and transparency matter.

🔮 What’s Changing in the Global Monetary System?

We are seeing the early signs of a new financial architecture, likely marked by:

• 🪙 CBDCs (Central Bank Digital Currencies) for domestic payments and control

• 🟡 Greater use of gold in trade settlement (especially among BRICS nations)

• ⛓️ Blockchain-based solutions (e.g., XRP, Ethereum) in cross-border finance

• 📉 Declining dominance of the U.S. dollar in global reserves

• 📜 More regulation and capital requirements for banks under Basel III

In other words: less reliance on fiat, more hard assets, and a digitized system of control.

🛡️ What Can You Do To Protect Yourself?

You don’t need to be a central bank or billionaire to take smart action. Here’s what the average person can do now:

✅ 1. Start Acquiring Physical Gold and Silver

• Buy bullion or coins from trusted dealers like Silver Gold Bull or Kitco

• Store it securely (home safe or non-bank vault)

• Think of it as wealth insurance, not just an investment

✅ 2. Diversify Outside the Traditional System

• Don’t keep 100% of your savings in the bank

• Consider using a credit union for your financial services instead of any of those listed above or another "big bank"

• Consider a mix of precious metals, and tangible investments (e.g. real estate, art, etc.)

• Explore "cold" wallets or platforms that provide real custody and ownership

✅ 3. Educate Yourself

• Follow updates from the BIS and Federal Reserve

• Learn how CBDCs and new digital payment networks may affect privacy and autonomy

• Take control of your financial knowledge — before the next system shift

🧭 Final Thoughts

From Basel III to gold-backed trade, to the rise of digital, blockchain currency networks, the pieces of a new financial world are being quietly put into place.

The good news? You’re not powerless. By understanding what’s happening and taking steps now — like acquiring precious metals and diversifying your savings — you can protect yourself from whatever comes next.

Build your wealth in ounces.

David LeBlanc Precious Metals Coach "Real money for We The People"

preciousmetalscoach@proton.me

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Disclaimer: This podcast and/or article are for education and entertainment purposes only, and reflect my views and opinions. Nothing contained in any of these is to be considered as advice. As always, you should consult a certified professional so you can determine what's right for your circumstances.