To be fair, gold has had atleast 1000 years to gain adoption as money by half the world. Crypto in comparison will probably reach that level of adoption after 30-50 years of existence.
Gold didn't reach its current adoption over 1000 years. It always had the current adoption rate. 1000 years ago, if someone gave you gold, you wouldn't wonder, "gee, should I keep this shiny yellow metal or throw it away?" - you would keep it.
We've found gold ornaments in pre-pottery neolithic sites dating back thousands of years. The % of people who want to own gold was near 100% even thousands of years ago.
If anything, gold adoption rate has declined in the modern fiat age, at least in western countries.
To be fair, gold has had atleast 1000 years to gain adoption as money by half the world. Crypto in comparison will probably reach that level of adoption after 30-50 years of existence.