[cdecker]

Stores of value are, for the most part, societal constructs. Anything has value as long as there is somebody willing to exchange something of theirs for it. That's also what makes value intangible as there is a built-in subjectivity in this.

Gold falls into the category "has always had value, so it will always have value" type of thoughts. And that's just what gives it value, out confidence that we can exchange it for something when you need it.

[dtech]

It's almost the definition of a store of value. If it was actually useful it's called a strategic reserve, like for oil.

[eesmith]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategic_reserve

> A strategic reserve can be ... A commodity, such as intervention stocks of food or petrol ...

> Examples of commodity reserves: Global strategic petroleum reserves ... Gold reserve