GATA

Lebanon considers sale of gold reserves to rescue its banks and economy

Section: Daily Dispatches

By Malaika Kanaaneh Tapper
Financial Times, London
Monday, February 23, 2026

BEIRUT -- Lebanese bankers and politicians are eyeing the controversial sale or lease of part of the central bank's large gold reserves -- whose value has soared along with the gold price -- as a way of rescuing the country from a devastating economic crisis.

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On LFTV, Maguire and Macleod discuss silver squeeze and fiat collapse

Section: Daily Dispatches

8:27p ET Saturday, February 21, 2026

Dear Friend of GATA and Gold:

On this week's installment of Kinesis Money's "Live from the Vault" program, London metals trader Andrew Maguire and economist Alasdair Macleod discuss the squeeze on silver and the accelerating collapse of the Western fiat currency system. The program is 58 minutes long and can be viewed at the Kinesis Money channel at YouTube here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G25T2XHwxqM

Bitcoin's $1 trillion identity crisis hits from every direction

Section: Daily Dispatches

By Isabelle Lee and Vildana Hajric
Bloomberg News
Saturday, February 21, 2026

It wouldn't have seemed possible a year ago. But Bitcoin has gotten caught in one of its deepest struggles yet, with no obvious way out.

The world's largest cryptocurrency has plunged more than 40% from its peak, and the usual playbook isn't working -- dip buyers have vanished, and the forces that would normally fuel a rebound are now working against it. Gold is winning the macro-hedge argument. Stablecoins are winning payments. Prediction markets are winning speculation.

Russia sold 300,000 ounces of gold as prices hit record

Section: Daily Dispatches

But the country's gold holdings still increased in value

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From Bloomberg News
Friday, February 18, 2026

Russia's central bank sold gold from its reserves in January, taking advantage of prices that had climbed to record highs.

The country's bullion holdings fell by 300,000 ounces to 74.5 million ounces, according to data published today by the Bank of Russia. The sale marked the first decrease in gold reserves since October. ...

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Who needs to visit the Bank of England's gold vault? How about answers to critical questions?

Section: Daily Dispatches

10:16p ET Friday, February 20, 2026

Dear Friend of GATA and Gold:

Today Great Britain's Sky News breathlessly broadcast a report about a visit its economics reporter, Ed Conway, recently was allowed to make to the Bank of England's basement gold vault in London. 

As might have been expected, the report was mostly gush and "gee-whiz" stuff as Conway marveled at all the shiny metal bars. While Sky News touted the visit as "rare," it was hardly exclusive.

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Alasdair Macleod: Gold and silver are recovering

Section: Daily Dispatches

By Alasdair Macleod
GoldMoney, Toronto
Thursday, February 20, 2026

In very low turnover on Comex, gold and silver begin to recover as geopolitical tensions rise. Evidence is increasing of a possible attack by the United States on Iran in the coming days.