Aura Group | News and Insights

Safe Haven

Written by Calvin Ng | Jun 26, 2025 2:08:45 AM

Global military conflicts and geopolitical escalation are back in focus. This article breaks down which asset classes and geographies tend to outperform, how Bitcoin fits into the mix, and what “safe haven” really means for a 2025 portfolio.

What Performs in Global Conflicts

Asset Class  Why It Performs
Gold & Precious Metals Safe-haven demand, inflation hedge, store of value
Energy (Oil, Gas) Supply disruptions, price spikes
Defense & Aerospace Government spending on war machinery
Commodities Supply chain shocks, strategic value
U.S. Treasuries (short-term) Liquidity refuge, especially in flight-to-quality phases
Private Credit / Structured Debt Floating-rate yield, low correlation to public markets, and vital capital in dislocated environments
Cybersecurity & Infra Tech Rising relevance in modern warfare

Bitcoin (BTC)?

Bitcoin’s role is still evolving. At times it behaves like digital gold—useful in regimes with capital controls, weak currencies, or authoritarian crackdowns. But it's still tightly correlated with global risk appetite, especially in the short term.

Conflict Type Bitcoin Behaviour
Hot wars (e.g. Ukraine-Russia) Spike in usage, especially for cross-border transactions
Global liquidity crunch BTC often sells off with other risk assets
Localised repression Strong adoption—capital flight tool
Inflation + Trust Crisis Performs better as “store of value” narrative kicks in

Where the Capital Flows

Geography Why It Holds Up
United States Safe-haven, reserve currency, defense sector
Switzerland & Singapore Stability, neutrality, financial integrity
Canada & Australia Resource exporters, distance from conflict zones
Gulf States Oil exporters, sovereign wealth-backed stability

At Aura, we’re fortunate to be strategically positioned in both Australia and Singapore—two markets that continue to punch above their weight as modern-day safe havens.

Australia, often called the Lucky Country, remains just that. Its vast geographic distance from global conflict zones, resource-rich economy, and strong institutions have historically insulated it—even during World War II, where the mainland was largely untouched.

Singapore, on the other hand, is neutrality in action. As a trusted financial centre, it thrives on rule of law, regulatory clarity, and geopolitical non-alignment. It’s where capital seeks shelter—and often finds opportunity.

And while these asset class tilts may make sense for some, even with all the data and historical patterns, sometimes the most rational response is to do nothing. If you already have well-diversified portfolio (still the only free lunch in investing) and no immediate need to withdraw capital, you’ve earned the right to not have to predict the next flashpoint or safe haven. It allows you to stay invested, avoid panic, and let time do the heavy lifting.

If you’d like to discuss your portfolio or explore how Aura can support your long-term wealth goals, feel free to reach out. One of our Private Wealth Advisors would be happy to help.