A new gold rush: States stockpile bars, encourage gold-backed debit cards

By Kevin Hardy Stateline, Washington, D.C. Friday, April 10, 2026 More states are piling up gold bars, or encouraging residents to use gold-backed debit cards, to hedge against inflation. Several states, including Western ones with rich mining histories, have been stockpiling gold as part of their broader state savings. And more states are looking to follow the lead of Texas and Florida by passing so-called transactional gold laws that would invite consumers to save and spend gold through their own accounts. ... Dispatch continues below ... ... ADVERTISEMENT ... Are you ready to safeguard your assets using precious metals? Hero Bullion is a precious metals dealer with an extensive inventory of competitively priced gold, silver, and platinum products. We didn't get into this business just to sell metals. Our goal is to educate investors to help them make sounder financial decisions. For four years we have focused on educational resources, competitive prices, and reliable, secure shipping. Check out our reviews. Hero Bullion is quickly becoming a favorite of customers all over the country. We're committed to helping you cut through the hype and build your portfolio with high-quality, affordable precious metals. Visit us here: www.herobullion.com Hero Bullion: Gold and silver simply delivered Critics question the need for these bills and some have panned them as potentially market-disrupting measures that could ultimately provide tax havens for the wealthy. But proponents say they can help bring gold to the masses and provide ordinary consumers an important protection against the creep of inflation, since gold has generally increased in value over time. "Inflation is the carbon monoxide that you can't see, taste, or smell," said Georgia state Sen. Marty Harbin, a Republican who this year sponsored bipartisan legislation that would have established gold and silver as legal tender and created an electronic payment system. The state Senate approved that bill but it didn't advance beyond a House committee. Harbin said he expects to reintroduce it next session. ... ... For the remainder of the report: https://stateline.org/2026/04/10/a-new-gold-rush-states-stockpile-bars-encourage-gold-backed-debit-cards/ * * * Support GATA by purchasing Stuart Englert's "Rigged" "Rigged" is a concise explanation of government's currency market rigging policy and extensively credits GATA's work exposing it. Ten percent of sales proceeds are contributed to GATA. Buy a copy for $14.99 through Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Rigged-Exposing-Largest-Financial%20-History/dp/1651405204/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?keywords=rugged+stuart+englert&qid=1579708888&sr=8-2-fkmr1 * * * Help keep GATA going: GATA is a civil rights and educational organization based in the United States and tax-exempt under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Its e-mail dispatches are free, and you can subscribe at: http://www.gata.org To contribute to GATA, please visit: http://www.gata.org/node/16 Donations of $500 or more will entitle the donor to a 1-ounce silver round commemorating GATA's work: https://www.gata.org/sites/default/files/GATA-silver-round-front.png