Ibrahim Assuaibi: In 2026, Gold Prices Could Soar to Rp3.5 Million per Gram

Ibrahim Assuaibi on EdShareOn Podcast. (doc. EdShareOn)

JAKARTA - Money market analyst Ibrahim Assuaibi said that the trend of rising gold prices will continue this year. The director of PT Laba Forexindo Berjangka predicts that gold could reach a price of US$5,500 per troy ounce or Rp3.5-3.8 million per gram in 2026, assuming the rupiah exchange rate to the American dollar reaches Rp17,500-17,800.

"If we talk about world gold, the unit of weight is troy ounce. Let's assume the price is US$5,500 per troy ounce. If converted to grams, then multiplied by the rupiah, plus the cost of postage and certificates such as Antam gold of around Rp100 thousand, then the price of gold can be Rp3.5-3.8 million per gram," he said when talking to Eddy Wijaya in the EdShareOn podcast which aired on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

As is known, the world gold price throughout 2025 rose significantly by 57%. Meanwhile, the domestic precious metal price gas to 70% which is influenced by the weakening of the rupiah exchange rate against the American dollar. Although it has experienced a slight correction at the end of 2025, early this year the price of gold began to creep up.

"It is likely that in 2026 the increase will be more than 70%", said Ibrahim.

Ibrahim made the estimate by weighing a number of factors. Namely geopolitics, trade wars, political conditions in the United States, as well as the policies of The Fed, the US central bank, which lowered interest rates. He cited the geopolitical conditions in the Middle East and Asia that continue to be turbulent.

Recently, Iran through President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country was in a full-scale war against the United States, Israel, and Europe. Masoud's statement is still related to the 12-day Israeli and US air raids that killed nearly 1,100 Iranians.

Ibrahim explained that if Israel and Iran were at war, and involved other Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, crude oil production could decline. As a result, many countries are short of supplies and crude oil prices could rise.

"If the price of crude oil rises, derivative goods will rise, inflation can be high. If inflation is high, people will turn to gold," he said.

Likewise, tensions between Venezuela and the US, which escalated with the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the US on January 3. This conflict could have an impact on global sentiment because Venezuela is the country with the largest oil reserves in the world, producing 1.1 million barrels of oil per day. Not to mention the never-ending Ukraine-Russia conflict in Europe.

According to Ibrahim, until the end of the US President Donald Trump's administration in 2028, wars and geopolitical tensions will still occur. Even the worst scenario of World War 3 has emerged considering that global conflicts are still heating up.

No wonder in Europe, the financial services company Lehman Brothers was already self-aware by withdrawing its funds from stocks to cash. "Because if World War 3 happens, securities have no price. The only two things that are valuable are cash and gold," he said.

Ibrahim Assuaibi predicts the rupiah will weaken due to geopolitical pressure.Ibrahim Assuaibi on EdShareOn Podcast. (doc. EdShareOn)

Money market analyst Ibrahim Assuaibi projects a weakening of the rupiah in 2026 to the level of Rp17 thousand. As of January 6, 2025, the rupiah exchange rate to the US dollar broke through Rp16,700. "My prediction, the rupiah (against the US dollar) can go to (level) Rp17,500-17,800," he told Eddy Wijaya in the EdShareOn podcast which aired on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

Ibrahim assessed that the weakening of the rupiah exchange rate was influenced by geopolitical instability. Including the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a US military operation, as well as the conflict that has not subsided in the Middle East.

The global political situation makes global investors withdraw money from developing countries such as Indonesia, and tend to choose to secure their funds to gold and US dollar assets.

"Bank Indonesia itself said 2026 was a 'not okay' year because of global economic problems," said the Director of PT Laba Forexindo Berjangka. Likewise, a number of international institutions such as the World Bank, ADB, and the IMF, which predict global economic growth is likely only 5%, even below that.

The Government of the Republic of Indonesia itself has made efforts to maintain national economic resilience from unstable geopolitical shocks. One of them is by distributing Rp200 trillion in funds from BI to banks to strengthen liquidity, lower credit interest rates, and support access to financing for the real sector.

Another government policy, Ibrahim said, was to redenominate the rupiah, or simplify the currency figure. For example, from the original Rp100 thousand to Rp100 without reducing its exchange rate.

This is done to increase public and investor confidence in the national currency, as well as to show the stability of the country's economy. This redenomination is targeted to be included in the 2026 national legislation program, and will be carried out in 2027.

Ibrahim explained that the redenomination of the rupiah also had other goals, for example to encourage "hot money" that had been hidden by corruptors to be exchanged at banks.

"2027-2029 is a political year, it needs campaign costs. The government wants to cut access to illegal cash, so the coalition of government supporters may break its stance when discussing this," he said.

Who is Eddy Wijaya, this is his profile

Eddy Wijaya is a podcaster born on August 17, 1972. Through the YouTube account @EdShareOn, Eddy interviewed many national figures ranging from state officials, legal experts, political experts, national politicians, to local celebrities.

The man with a right cheek dimple is also a nationalist who is an activist for the marginalized and social observers by helping the community through the Wijaya Peduli Bangsa Foundation.

He is also active in the field of sports by serving as the Chairman of the Indonesian Equestrian Sports Association (Pordasi) Pacu and also served as Deputy General Chairman of the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) East Jakarta.

Eddy also served as an Advisory Board of the Indonesian Chinese Social Marga Association, 2022-2026 term of office. His ideas were formed because of his hard work to be independent from the age of 13 to be successful as he is now. For Eddy, the working world is not as smooth as imagined, failure and rejection are common. This is what makes him hold fast to the tagline "Success is only a matter of time". (ADV)