Board Thread:Destiny Forum/@comment-24306135-20140420221422/@comment-213.103.194.41-20140830131337

Having a look at the menu while playing the beta, it indicated that the multiplayer only componants (strikes/crucible) do indeed require gold. This is obvious as you are required to do these activities with others. However the story and free-roam did not say that gold was required. This tells me that you can very well pay the story and explore without gold. It is not however certain.