The 2008 financial crisis marks the return of gold into the international monetary system. It is also the beginning of currency wars. 2008 is also the year central banks stopped selling gold reserves and instead started buying. In this currency wars that will lead to a reset of the international monetary system, five countries will play a major role but each in a different way. The two largest players on opposite side are the United States and China. The US is the only anti gold player and China the largest pro gold player. However, Russia also has made gold a major weapon against the US and especially since the West, under US leadership, imposed financial and economic sanctions on Russia. The two other major players, because of large ownership of gold and a much more pro gold attitude, are the European Union/Euro Area and India (private ownership in India is a lot larger than official gold reserves).