The gold rush might have a new frontier. But can lab-grown gold disrupt the market? - Fast Company Middle East

AI desk brief

Marathon Fusion announced in October 2026 that it had converted mercury into gold using fusion-generated neutrons; its projected five tonnes annually per future 1-GWe plant is not demonstrated commercial output. Company modeling indicates radioactive material would require 14–18 years of storage, while commercial fusion, mercury-isotope separation, economics and bullion certification remain hurdles. eToro analyst Nagham Hassan estimates that even a plant starting in the 2030s might not deliver saleable bullion until the late 2040s. Century Financial’s Vijay Valecha expects little foreseeable price or demand impact: additional supply would depend on independent verification, competitive costs and scalable production, leaving existing demand and macroeconomic drivers more consequential.