Which assets are traditionally used as safe havens?

Traditional safe-haven assets are investments people buy during economic uncertainty to preserve wealth. Gold is the most famous example—it maintains value when markets crash. Government bonds, particularly U.S. Treasury bonds, are also considered safe because governments rarely default. Swiss francs and Japanese yen are stable currencies preferred during crises. In crypto, Bitcoin is often called 'digital gold' because many investors view it as a store of value similar to physical gold. However, cryptocurrencies are significantly more volatile than traditional safe havens. During market turmoil, Bitcoin can still experience sharp price swings. Stablecoins like USDC are closer to crypto safe havens since they're pegged to the U.S. dollar. While some investors use crypto as portfolio insurance, traditional safe havens remain more reliable for risk-averse investors.