Central banks are reducing reliance on the New York Fed and other overseas custodians as geopolitical and access concerns prompt reserve reallocations. De Nederlandsche Bank moved approximately 86 tonnes from North American storage between March and August 2026, while France withdrew its remaining 129 tonnes from New York in 26 transactions between July 2025 and January 2026. Ripple chief executive Brad Garlinghouse said the Dutch operation shows how traditional finance can transfer gold ownership without physically moving the underlying asset, and argued that blockchain-based assets could make cross-border settlement faster, cheaper and more programmable. The World Gold Council’s June 2026 survey found that 14% of central banks stored gold at the New York Fed, down from 17% a year earlier, while the Bank of England’s share fell from 64% to 57%. Germany still holds roughly 1,236 tonnes in New York after repatriating about 300 tonnes in 2017, and domestic pressure to withdraw more has intensified. The 2022 freezing of Russian central bank assets heightened concerns about access to reserves held abroad. France’s transfers generated estimated capital gains of €11 billion to €13 billion because of U.S. gold premiums, while larger sovereign movements could affect gold-market volatility, premiums, logistics and insurance costs. XRP Ledger validator Vet said XRP and tokenized assets could combine gold-like neutrality with blockchain speed, allowing digital ownership transfers without relocating bullion. Garlinghouse is also urging U.S. lawmakers to advance the CLARITY Act; a Senate procedural vote was scheduled for September 15 at 2:15 p.m. ET, although disputes over decentralized finance and consumer protections and an early House recess could delay enactment. XRP traded near $1.41, up 0.5% on the day and 21% over three months.