Ep 8: Joshua Rotbart: The New Geography of Gold

Andrew Henderson sits down with precious metals dealer and J. Rotbart & Co. founder Joshua Rotbart to explore how gold is reshaping wealth preservation, geopolitics, and capital flows across Asia and beyond. Joshua explains why China has become a "black hole" for gold, why central banks are accumulating bullion at the fastest pace in decades, and how investors are rethinking where they store wealth in an increasingly fragmented world. They discuss the cultural role of gold across Asia, from Chinese and Vietnamese households to Indian family wealth, and why physical ownership remains deeply embedded in societies that have experienced inflation, political instability, and rapid economic change. Joshua shares how Singapore and Hong Kong emerged as Asia's leading precious metals hubs, why Switzerland still commands a premium despite growing competition, and how geopolitical tensions are influencing decisions about storage, jurisdiction, and asset protection. Along the way, they examine China's property slowdown, central bank buying, sanctions, Africa's growing role in the gold supply chain, the rise of multipolar financial systems, and why many investors increasingly view gold not as speculation but as strategic insurance. In this episode, Andrew and Joshua discuss: - Why China is leading global demand for physical gold and how younger investors are shifting away from property. - How gold functions differently in Asia than in the West, serving as both an investment and a cultural asset. - Why many Asian investors prefer physical possession of gold rather than third-party storage. - The role of gold in Chinese, Indian, Vietnamese, and Thai family wealth traditions. - How Singapore and Hong Kong became Asia's dominant precious metals hubs. - Whether Switzerland can maintain its premium position as Asian wealth continues to grow. - How investors choose between jurisdictions such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, Australia, and New Zealand for long-term storage. - Why recent geopolitical conflicts are forcing investors to think about physical security, access, and jurisdictional risk. - Africa's growing importance in global gold production and the challenges of refining, compliance, and resource sovereignty. - How sanctions, supply chains, and a more multipolar world are changing the global gold trade. - Why central banks have become some of the largest buyers of gold since the financial crisis. - The role of silver alongside gold and how investors think about precious metals allocation. Follow Joshua: LinkedIn About Borders Borders is a long-form audio series hosted by Andrew Henderson, exploring how capital, power, and opportunity are reorganizing beyond the Western mainstream. Each episode features an unscripted conversation with founders, policymakers, investors, and thinkers operating at the edges of conventional narratives. The focus is structural clarity — not headlines. Produced by Vesper. Hosted by Mr. Andrew J. Henderson: https://andrewjhenderson.com/