Practically, I suspect Bitcoin relies on the reach bitcoin mining networks. If, eg, China's bureaucrats go mad and split China off from the main internet for a decade, what happens to bitcoin? I've been led to believe the serious mining pools are Chinese. Gold doesn't care about that sort of thing at all, it just keeps existing.
There are arguments for both. Storing metal is a cost.
This situation already exists for gold: gold (the physical stuff) in China and in the EU are loosely coupled: try to move your gold bar around.
To make electronics out of it. The comparison of Bitcoin with gold falls short because gold is useful even outside of being a commodity or payment method.
Germany was recently "discouraged" of claiming their gold reserves back.