Introduction 

A store of value is an asset, currency, or commodity that maintains its value for a long time. If the value of an item remains stable or rises over time but does not depreciate, it is considered a store of value.

A good store of value is one that can be kept and converted into money in the future with no loss in value. Divisibility, durability, and mobility are all factors that influence whether an item is a good store of value. As mentioned above a store of value is an asset, currency, or commodity that retains its value when stored and retrieved at a later date. 

A high-yield investment with a long lifespan and infinite demand is considered low risk because of its permanent existence and limitless demand. Because its storage of value does not deteriorate in an economic recession, gold is often regarded as the ultimate safe-haven asset.

Understanding Store of Value

A store of value, in essence, is any asset, currency, or commodity that can be converted to another at a later time with minimal risk of loss. The criteria that determine whether an object may be considered a store of value are whether it may be saved, recovered, and traded while keeping its purchasing power.

As the central idea behind a store of value, risk aversion dictates that prices will be maintained as long as there is perpetual demand for the item. To put it simply, gold and other precious metals are stores of value because they retain utility over time without decreasing in value.

Interest-bearing assets are also recognized as stores of value since they generate income while preserving value. A commodity, on the other hand, such as milk, is a poor store of value because it is perishable and will eventually go bad.

For centuries, different materials have served as money. In the beginning, people working in trade used valuables and assets like gold to barter because of their worth, durability, and convenience. Money needs to meet certain requirements to be practical, such as being accepted by most people and maintaining its purchasing power over time.

Money is typically regarded as a store of value in the monetary economy, where it can be utilized as a means of saving and allocating capital. Money’s capacity to preserve value over time allows for the exchange of purchasing power over time.

In addition to money’s use as a means of exchange, it can also be used to store a value between transactions. This is because money can retain its purchasing power over time, making it an ideal way to save up for future purchases.

People preserve value in their wallets until they want to exchange it for goods or services, as illustrated by the example of the lady carrying money in her wallet. At the same time, the store of value idea allows individuals to save and defer spending until a later date.

Because of its store of value property, vast amounts of money are gathered. However, significant changes in prices can cause money to pass its usefulness as a store of value. In particular, the purchasing power decreases, and a cost is incurred when inflation rises; hence, the liquidity constraint will be binding.

Store of value – examples

Currency 

A country’s currency is what its citizens use to pay debts and buy goods and services. A strong currency is necessary for a nation’s economy to function properly. The legal tender must be able to support the workforce, trade, savings, and spending.

Precious Metals

Precious metals were formerly employed by many nations as a means of facilitating trade. Because of their portable and divisibility characteristics, precious metals – such as gold, silver, and platinum – served as stores of value for many nations. Until 1993, the United States was a gold standard nation, meaning it used gold to back its holdings. investors could exchange their dollars for a certain quantity of gold. 

The end of the gold standard idea granted the Federal Reserve even more power over macro issues like inflation, unemployment rates, and economic outputs. The United States replaced the gold standard with a fiat money system, which is a legal currency issued by the government but lacks backing from precious metals.

Cryptocurrency 

Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ether, are seen by some economists as a good store of value. Its characteristics – such as scarcity, divisibility, decentralized security network, and transfer of value – make it a suitable store of money.

Many fiat currencies have a long story of decreased purchasing power because of inflation (usually caused by a quick increase in the circulating supply of that currency). Even though money is considered by some economists as a primary example of a store of value, it doesn’t hold its value like it used to. The main reason for this is because its purchasing power changes at a snail’s pace. Furthermore, money is almost certainly the most liquid financial asset we have today. 

Still, despite the fact that money has good long-term storage value, it is still contentious to label it as a good store of value. Because inflation and hyperinflation are eroding its purchasing power at an ever-increasing rate, there’s a lot of debate over whether or not it’s a viable option.

Gold, silver, and other precious metals are also valued as a store of money since they are difficult to come by (limited supply). They’re also lightweight enough to be stored for long periods without becoming physically damaged. Bitcoin is seen by some as a protective investment and is often described as “digital gold.” Bitcoin is rare and permanent. It’s a digital currency that can’t be duplicated or spent more than once.

Bitcoin’s increasing value over time has a number of causes, some of which are outlined above. Others believe that because Bitcoin is highly volatile and has an ever-changing market price, it cannot be considered a store of wealth by definition.

Keep in mind 

A store of value, therefore, may vary greatly from country to country and culture to culture. In most of the world’s developed economies, the local currency can be relied on as a store of money in almost every circumstance save for the worst-case scenarios.

Stable currencies, such as the American dollar, the Japanese yen, the Swiss franc, and the Singaporean dollar, benefit their home economies significantly. They are resistant to hyperinflation but not invincible.

In some cases, other forms of value, such as gold, silver, real estate, and fine art, have shown their worth over time. During national crises or when a financial shock affects the overall markets, the price of gold often rises dramatically, earning it a reputation as the ultimate safe haven. The value of these stores will change over time, but they can always be counted on to have some value, no matter what the situation is. This is especially true if there is a limited amount of the store’s supply.