Skol, there is a big difference. Gold hasn't gone up 5.4 times in the last 10 years. Gold has maintained its value throughout the milennia. It is probably worth now about the same as it was 4000 years ago (because it is finite and the supply grows roughly in proportion to world's population). What has happened is that the value (purchasing power) of the dollar has gone down. Gold has only increased in value in US dollar terms. Furthermore, gold is not debt. It is not somebody else's liability. It is real money. Nothing to do with ponzi schemes!