Who buys gold?
Central banks, Indians, rich Arabs. In Europe, gold is very, very regulated. In some countries, every transaction has to be declared, and sometimes, it's also taxed. It's a bit better in the US, but not by much. Gold also requires you to rent a deposit box at your bank, and it's hugely difficult to travel with. Shares or cryptocurrencies, which you can trade online, are a much smarter choice for the individual.