RuneScape continues to thrive in 2025, with exciting updates across both RuneScape and Old School RuneScape (OSRS). One of the most important aspects of gameplay remains RuneScape gold – the lifeblood of the in-game economy. With major changes rolled out this year, understanding how RuneScape gold works and how to earn or save it efficiently is more critical than ever.

The Grand Exchange Tax Update
One of the biggest economic shifts occurred in OSRS when the Grand Exchange (GE) tax was doubled from 1% to 2% on May 29, 2025. This was introduced to curb inflation and remove excess gold from circulation. While the tax affects all players, it's especially impactful on lower-level traders and casual players trying to make their fortune.

To adapt, players should be more strategic with their sales. Bundling items or trading in higher volumes helps offset the tax loss. Alternatively, direct player-to-player trades can bypass the GE entirely, especially for rare items or bulk sales. Expect to see more players using this method in response to the higher tax rate.

Earning Gold in New Game Modes
The recently introduced Group Ironman mode in RuneScape offers a new, more cooperative way to play without relying on external trading. While gold accumulation is slower in this mode due to its self-contained nature, it encourages players to explore gold-earning activities together, such as bossing, skilling, and questing. Shared storage and group rewards mean players can pool resources effectively.

For players in standard modes, the rising value of rare drops from new bosses, like Amascut the Devourer, offers lucrative opportunities. Preparing for these high-level fights with proper gear and teamwork can turn into a goldmine if you snag one of the top-tier drops.

Skilling for Profit
2025 has brought new updates to several skills, making skilling more profitable than ever. The cap increase to level 110 and the addition of new items like advanced hatchets and ranged weapons in the Woodcutting and Fletching updates offer profitable crafting loops. Cutting the new tree species and turning them into sellable items is now a solid gold-making method.

With upcoming updates to Runecrafting and Crafting, players should start preparing materials early to get ahead of the market once new recipes and items go live.

Seasonal Events and Limited Rewards
Seasonal events remain a great opportunity for quick gold. Participating in events like Harvest Hollow or the Christmas Village allows players to earn unique items. Some of these items, like the Black Party Hat, become valuable collectibles. Selling these on the GE shortly after the event often yields high profits, especially if demand outpaces supply.

Gold Beyond Gielinor
Jagex also expanded the universe with RuneScape: Dragonwilds, a survival crafting game in cheapest OSRS gold early access. While it doesn't use gold directly, the skills you develop there, such as resource management and crafting efficiency, carry over into better gold-making strategies in the main game.