Startup’s Mercury-to-Gold Claim Sparks Debate Over Future Bullion Supply
Marathon Fusion says it has turned mercury into stable gold at a rate ten times CERN’s previous record. The article explores a hypothetical scenario in which a 1-gigawatt fusion plant produces about 5 tonnes of gold a year, and 100 such plants produce 500 tonnes, or roughly 14% of 2025 mine output. The claim raises questions about whether laboratory-made gold could someday affect the multitrillion-dollar bullion market, though large-scale production is not confirmed.
If laboratory gold ever became safe and economical at scale, it could unsettle assumptions among bullion investors, miners, refiners, and jewelers about scarcity and supply. Central banks and funds holding gold reserves may also reassess provenance and value. Yet because costs, timelines, and commercial viability remain unproven, near-term effects are likely limited; the story may mainly prompt scrutiny of claims and of how future technology could reshape confidence in a traditional store of value.