Money Goals

Gold, Stocks or Crypto? Here’s how I broke it down

Understand Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto to make informed choices.

Key insights

The investment universe is massive, but making the right choices is easy. How? Understanding your goals, time horizon, and risk appetite makes it easier to identify the investment avenues that align with your overall financial plan. Additionally, knowledge of applicable tax implications helps make well-informed and confident decisions.

Let’s try to simplify some of your choices by exploring the popular three investment avenues, i.e. Gold, Stocks, and Crypto.

A Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto comparison will empower you with insights to make smart investment choices.

Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto: The different asset classes

Let’s begin by exploring each asset class individually before understanding investing in Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto.

Gold

Gold is no longer purchased for cultural reasons but also for investment purposes. From physical Gold to Gold Mutual Funds to Digital Gold, there are several ways to invest in this metal. Notably, this asset class is considered one of the effective strategies to hedge your investment portfolio. It typically protects you during times of inflation, offering stability that traditional assets normally fail to provide.

Stocks

Stocks allow you to participate in the economic growth. You can either directly invest in Equity or invest through Mutual Funds. The stock market is inherently volatile and demands extensive research and knowledge.

Ideally, if you are new to Stocks, Mutual Funds are a good starting point. They are professionally managed and reduce the need for individual research and monitoring, allowing you to gradually learn about the market.

Crypto

Crypto or Cryptocurrency is not just used as a mode of payment but also for investments. Bitcoin, Altcoins, and Tokens are a few examples. Of these, Bitcoin is more popular. It functions on the blockchain technology and is characterised by high volatility. You can buy Bitcoin units from Cryptocurrency exchanges.

Crypto is a risky investment as there are concerns around regulatory uncertainty, high price volatility, cybersecurity threats and limited investor protection.

Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto: The comparison

Here’s a tabular presentation of Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto to help you identify which investment avenue best aligns with your preferences and financial goals. Before investing in Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto, you may want to go through these and discuss with a financial professional for guidance.

Investing in Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto
ParticularsGoldStocksCrypto
ModesYou can opt for physical Gold, Digital Gold, Gold Mutual Funds, etc.You can invest directly through the Stock exchange or indirectly through Mutual Funds.Here, you can buy Crypto through a Cryptocurrency exchange.
RiskIt is a comparatively less risky asset.The risk in the case of direct equities is typically higher.High risk
Investor-TypeGold is typically ideal for conservative investors.Typically, aggressive investors prefer investing in direct equity.Aggressive investors may consider Crypto as an investment avenue.
TaxationYou need to pay the applicable capital gain tax at the time of sale.Here, the relevant capital gain tax is applicable at the time of sale.In this case, there is a flat 30% tax on trading, selling, or swapping.
Key AdvantageGold usually helps hedge your investment portfolio.There is a possibility of generating inflation-adjusted returns.Crypto is likely to offer a high-return potential.

Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto: The best choice

After an overview of investing in Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto, the next obvious question in your mind would be ‘Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto, what’s better?’

There’s no direct answer here. The decision to invest depends on several parameters like your risk tolerance, financial goals, time horizon, etc.

For instance, Crypto may not be an ideal choice if your risk tolerance is low. In such a case, you may want to explore Gold or certain Mutual Funds with comparatively less volatility.

Understanding Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto contributes to informed decision making

Before investing in Gold vs Stocks vs Crypto, make sure to understand the key traits of each asset class. This will help you identify the investment avenue that best matches your financial objectives and can accelerate your financial journey.

Ultimately, a diversified portfolio with a mix of different asset classes can help you manage your risk tolerance and return expectations, contributing to a robust investment portfolio.

Furthermore, it is always a good idea to test the waters by investing in smaller quantities to understand the functioning of various asset classes before putting in larger amounts.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational purposes. The views expressed in this article are personal. Axis Bank and/or the author shall not be liable for any direct or indirect loss or liability incurred by the reader arising from reliance on the content herein. Readers are advised to consult a qualified financial advisor before making any financial decisions. Axis Bank does not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any third-party content or links included in this article.
Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risk. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully. Axis Bank Ltd. is acting as an AMFI registered MF Distributor (ARN code: ARN-0019). Any purchase of Mutual Funds by Axis Bank’s customer(s) is purely voluntary and not linked to availment of any other facility from the Bank. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Past performance is not indicative of future returns. Readers are advised to consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Terms and Conditions apply.


By Axis Bank Learning Hub Team

Your next smart read