Complete Guide to Investing in Gold in 2025: Regulated Platforms and Effective Strategies

The Appeal of Gold as an Investment Asset

Gold investment has gained exponential relevance in recent years. Over the past five decades, the price of this precious metal has experienced extraordinary growth: it went from trading at 35 dollars per ounce to approximately 4200 dollars in the second half of 2025, representing a 120-fold increase from its initial value.

What is particularly notable is gold’s performance starting in 2024. During this period, it has consecutively hit new all-time highs, accumulating a gain of over 103% since the beginning of the year. This behavior reflects its fundamental role as protection against economic volatility, inflation resistance, and value preservation.

Four Options to Access the Gold Market

When deciding to start investing in gold, you should know that there is no single access route. Each alternative presents different characteristics, risks, and opportunities. Below, we analyze each modality so you can choose the one best suited to your investment profile.

Physical gold: tangibility versus security

Direct purchase of gold in the form of bars or jewelry represents the most traditional alternative. The main appeal lies in concrete possession of the asset.

Advantages in your favor:

• Direct contact with the asset, avoiding intermediaries
• Permanent intrinsic value independent of the financial system
• Defensive barrier against economic crises

Disadvantages:

• Significant exposure to theft or loss
• Considerable costs for secure storage
• Low ability to sell quickly at competitive prices
• Higher tax burden on realized gains

CFDs: access without possession for agile investors

Contracts for difference allow speculation on gold price movements without ever owning the metal. The investor and broker agree to exchange only the difference between opening and closing prices.

This modality is ideal for those starting their investment journey with limited capital (less than 1000 USD). CFDs offer multiplied flexibility: you can trade gold cross-currency with USD or EUR, and simultaneously access stocks, ETFs, and other instruments from a single account.

Advantages of the CFD model:

• Quick entry without substantial capital
• Access to multiple assets from a unified platform
• Ability to profit in both bullish and bearish trends
• Leverage available to amplify exposure

Significant limitations:

• Higher leverage implies greater risk of loss
• No physical backing of the asset
• Greater operational complexity for beginners

Gold mining stocks: indirect profitability

Mining and processing companies offer an indirect route. When you buy their shares, you gain exposure to gold without owning it directly, but profit if the company performs well operationally.

Relevant names in this segment include Wheaton Precious Metals Corp (WPM), Dundee Precious Metals Inc (DPM.TO), and DRDGold Limited (DRD).

Favorable aspects:

• Potential additional income through dividends
• Participation in expanding markets
• Transparency through public financial reports

Inherent challenges:

• Requires skill in reading balance sheets and projections
• Sensitive to operational factors specific to each company
• Volatility decoupled from the price of pure gold

ETFs: simplified institutional diversification

Exchange-traded funds group multiple assets under a single tradable structure on major markets. Some replicate the price of gold, others include portfolios of mining companies.

The main advantage is automatic diversification without personalized active management. Notable funds in this category include SPDR Gold Shares, iShares Gold Trust, and SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust.

Benefits of this structure:

• Immediate diversification within a single investment
• High liquidity for entry and exit
• Natural reduction of specific risk

Operational restrictions:

• Limited control over individual movements within the fund
• Management fees that erode returns
• No physical ownership or direct decision-making over underlying assets

Five Reliable Platforms to Invest in Gold in 2025

Choosing a broker is decisive for security and performance. The platforms described below operate under multiple government regulations and offer competitive conditions specifically for gold trading.

Mitrade: accessibility with minimum capital

Operational features:

• Initial deposit: 20 USD (the lowest barrier in the market)
• Cost structure: zero commissions, compressed spreads
• Withdrawals: first free monthly withdrawal; 5 USD additional thereafter
• Availability: iOS, Android, PC, and web platform

Founded in Melbourne, Australia, Mitrade holds certifications from ASIC, CIMA, and FSC. Its platform stands out for an intuitive interface accessible to novices, combined with a wide range of CFDs on commodities, equities, and crypto instruments.

Although emerging in Spanish-speaking markets, it already has 5 million users worldwide, highlighting operational solidity and fund protection.

Competitive differentiators:

• Configurable leverage from 1 to 100 times for gold positions
• Multiple deposit channels: Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, bank transfers
• Demo account for risk-free initial practice
• Regular promotions and offers
• A single account for gold, silver, stocks, currencies, and cryptocurrencies

eToro: community and copy trading

Operational parameters:

• Minimum deposit: 100 USD
• Costs: no commissions, low spreads
• Withdrawals: 5 USD per transaction
• Inactivity fee: 10 USD monthly if no activity for 12+ months
• Platform: mobile app and web

Founded in 2007, eToro manages 30 million users and has positioned itself as a social trading platform. Its distinctive feature is CopyTrader™, allowing automatic replication of successful traders’ operations.

With over 5000 assets including nearly 100 cryptocurrencies, it offers extreme diversification.

Advantages of the ecosystem:

• Collaborative tools ideal for mutual learning
• Simplified interface aimed at beginners
• Robust community encouraging interaction
• Free demo without risk

Critical considerations:

• Fee structure is not the most competitive compared to alternatives
• Inactivity penalty may surprise passive investors

AvaTrade: professional analysis and futures

Operational details:

• Minimum deposit: 100 USD
• Commissions: none, reduced spreads
• Withdrawals: no platform fee, banks may apply charges
• Inactivity: 10 USD monthly after 2 months of no activity
• Platforms: app, WebTrader, MetaTrader

AvaTrade, founded in 2006, manages 400,000 accounts worldwide. It offers advanced analytical tools, financial news feeds, and access to both gold CFDs and futures contracts on this metal.

Strengths:

• Suite of professional technical and fundamental analysis
• Dual exposure: spot gold and futures simultaneously
• Global regulatory presence facilitating regional access
• Compatibility with MetaTrader 4

Points to watch:

• High inactivity costs if capital falls below 2000 USD after 2 inactive months
• Better suited for active or long-term committed traders

TIOmarkets: strong FCA regulation

Operational setup:

• Initial deposit: no specific requirement mentioned
• Commissions: vary by account type and trading volume
• Withdrawals: no platform charges
• Regulation: FCA UK
• Platform: MetaTrader

TIOmarkets, recently founded (2019), quickly gained competitiveness under FCA supervision, one of the most prestigious regulatory bodies globally.

Competitive attributes:

• FCA regulation ensures maximum safety standards
• Flexible account models for different profiles
• Unlimited leverage maximizing exposure opportunities
• MetaTrader integration

Limiting factor:

• Less intuitive interface compared to competitors, requiring a learning curve

Tickmill: low spreads and affordable costs

Operational parameters:

• Minimum deposit: 100 USD
• Commissions: standard accounts without commissions but wider spreads
• Withdrawals: platform-free; possible bank fee
• Inactivity: 10 USD monthly after 12 months of no activity
• Platforms: app, WebTrader, MetaTrader

Tickmill, founded in 2014, has 785,000 open accounts thanks to a reputation built on competitive costs and multi-jurisdictional regulation (FCA, FSA, CySEC).

Differentiators:

• Strong licenses under trusted authorities
• Extensive catalog of financial instruments
• Various account options with customized fee structures
• Occasional promotions adding extra value

Operational challenge:

• Platforms require more familiarization than simplified alternatives

Gold Profitability: Assessing Benefits and Costs

Why Investing in Gold Remains Valid

Protection against market turbulence: Gold acts as a “safe-haven asset,” absorbing volatility when equities and bonds suffer. During the 2008-2012 crisis, its price rose over 100%.

Hedge against inflation: When the dollar loses purchasing power during inflationary periods, gold prices tend to appreciate significantly.

Portfolio decoupling: Since it does not move in tandem with stocks or bonds under the same conditions, gold reduces overall risk.

Operational limitations to consider

Moderate returns: Gold is not known for extreme volatility, generating less spectacular returns compared to high-growth stocks or emerging cryptocurrencies.

Operational expenses: Storing gold incurs transportation, insurance, and banking custody costs that erode net gains.

High taxation: Jurisdictions often impose higher tax rates on physical gold sales versus forex, equities, or ETFs.

Offensive Strategy: Short Selling When Gold Declines

Contrary to common belief, it is possible to profit even during price drops. This is achieved through “short operations” or “short selling.”

The concept is to sell an asset you do not own, expecting its price to fall so you can buy it back at a lower value, pocketing the difference.

Practical example: Imagine gold at 1800 USD/ounce. You anticipate a drop to 1700. You short at 1800, wait for the decline, buy back at 1700, and gain 100 USD.

Step-by-step procedure for short selling

Step 1: Technical analysis of a downward trend

Log into your broker and evaluate using technical indicators (moving averages, trend lines) and fundamental information (economic news, global events). If signals converge downward, proceed to set up a short position.

Step 2: Configure operational parameters

In the order window, select “sell” or “short.” Set up:

• Order type: Market (immediate execution) or pending (execution at a specific level)
• Volume: Number of lots (1 standard lot = 100 ounces)
• Leverage: Choose a multiplier aligned with your risk tolerance

Step 3: Protect with take profit and stop loss

Before confirming, establish exit levels:

• Take profit: Level to close when targets are reached
• Stop loss: Level to automatically cut if the market moves against you

Use technical supports/resistances or Fibonacci retracements as references.

Step 4: Execute and monitor

Confirm the operation. Stay attentive to market movements, making adjustments as necessary.