Caiz Insights: Digital Assets and Tokenized Gold: Key Trends in Tokenization for 2023

CAIZ MEDIUM
7 min readJan 23, 2023

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TL;DR

To most of us, investing in gold may be daunting and uncertain. Tokenized gold — a digital version of physical gold that can be bought, sold, and traded like other cryptocurrencies — may be the solution. It offers a convenient and accessible way to invest in gold without the need for physical storage or movement. But before you jump on board, we believe that it is important to understand the current regulations and future developments of this emerging technology. Join us in this article as we uncover the exciting world of tokenized gold investment, exploring the potential benefits and limitations, as well as the added security and transparency of blockchain technology. Don’t miss out on this revolutionary way to invest and trade in gold.

What is Tokenized Gold?

Imagine having a gold bar in your safe, it’s valuable, and it’s a great store of wealth. However, it’s not very practical to carry it around or to use it to make purchases. Tokenized gold is like having that same gold bar digitized and stored on your phone, now you can easily transfer it, buy and sell it just like cash, but with all the benefits of gold. It’s like having a digital version of your gold bar that you can use in your daily life.

Tokenized gold is a new way to invest in gold, it uses blockchain technology to create digital tokens that represent actual gold. Each token is backed by a matching amount of physical gold, so the value of the token is directly linked to the value of the underlying gold. This means that you can buy and sell tokenized gold just like any other cryptocurrency, but with the added security of knowing that your investment is backed by actual gold.

One of the biggest advantages of tokenized gold is that it allows investors to buy and sell gold without having to physically store or transport it. This makes it much more convenient and efficient. Plus, the transparency and security provided by blockchain technology ensures that you can track your ownership and transactions easily. On the whole, we maintain that tokenized gold is a great way to invest in gold and use it in your daily life.

Protect Your Wealth with Tokenized Gold & Invest in a Digital and Convenient Way

“Investing in gold has always been an important way to ensure your wealth is protected, and now with tokenized gold, this is easier than ever,” — Changpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance.

Think of tokenized gold as a digital Swiss Army knife for your finances, it can be used for multiple purposes in different situations.

One of the main practical utilities for tokenized gold is as a store of value, especially when times are uncertain or inflation is on the rise. For example, if you’re worried about the stability of your local currency or the stock market, you might choose to invest in tokenized gold to protect your capital. Tokenized gold can also serve as an inflation hedge, as the value of gold tends to rise over time and is widely seen as a safe haven asset.

Another way to use tokenized gold is as a speculative investment, similar to regular gold or other precious metals. As Caiz, we suppose that investors who are attracted to the potential for price growth but don’t want the hassle of physically owning and storing gold might find it particularly appealing. Furthermore, tokenized gold can be used as a foundation for a wide range of financial services and products, including gold-backed loans* and gold-denominated financial instruments.

Potential utilities of Tokenized Gold in International Trade and National Currencies

Tokenized gold is not just a new way to invest in gold, but it’s also being explored by countries as a means of conducting international trade or supporting their national currencies.

Tokenized gold has the potential to revolutionize the way international trade and currency is conducted. One of the main advantages of tokenized gold we believe it has is that it allows for fast and secure transactions on a global scale. Transactions can be settled almost instantly, reducing the need for physical movement of gold and the associated costs and risks. Moreover, tokenized gold can be used to create new financial products and services, such as gold-denominated loans* and derivatives. In this light, we speculate that it can open up new opportunities for international trade and investment.

“The gold standard is the only means of sound money.” Winston Churchill

Try to envision with us now a world where countries use a digital currency that is backed by tokenized gold, just like how the U.S. dollar used to be backed by gold. This concept is no longer just a theory, as some countries have started to implement it. For instance, The Central Bank of the Bahamas announced that it will introduce the Sand Dollar, a virtual currency backed by tokenized gold reserves. This is being done to increase financial inclusion and reduce dependency on cash in the Bahamas.

Another advantage is that tokenized gold can be used as a hedge against currency fluctuations and political instability. Traditional gold trade often relies on trusted intermediaries, such as banks and bullion dealers, to verify the authenticity and purity of the gold. Tokenized gold, on the other hand, allows for the gold to be verified and tracked on a public blockchain, providing transparency and security. This can help to increase trust and reduce fraud in international trade.

Furthermore, some nations have thought about adopting tokenized gold to back their national currencies and foster stability. For instance, the Iranian government declared in 2019 that it was investigating the development of a digital currency backed by gold in order to lessen the effects of economic sanctions and support the value of the Iranian Rial.

Explore the Advantages and Limitations of Tokenized Gold Investment

When it comes to tokenized gold, it’s important to weigh the potential benefits and limitations before making a decision.

Think of tokenized gold like a digital gold passbook, it allows you to buy, sell, and trade gold without the need to physically own it. This can make it more convenient and accessible than physically owning gold. Further, the use of blockchain technology allows for more efficient and transparent trading of gold, as it provides a secure and transparent record of ownership and transactions. Tokenized gold can also serve as a store of value, a hedge against inflation, or a speculative investment, as mentioned above. It may also offer greater liquidity than physically owning gold as it can be easily converted into other currencies or assets.

However, tokenized gold is still in the early stages of development and it is not yet clear how it will be regulated or how it will be perceived by investors and financial institutions. There is also a risk that the value of tokenized gold could be impacted by the security and stability of the underlying blockchain. And, there may be fees associated with buying, selling, and trading tokenized gold, which could impact the overall return on investment. Lastly, it is not a physical asset, so it does not offer the same level of tangible security as physically owning gold.

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest” — Benjamin Franklin

At Caiz, we deem it to be of utmost importance for novice investors to conduct thorough research before putting their hard-earned money into tokenized gold. Because tokenized gold is relatively new, it is not yet clear how widely it will be adopted or what role it will play in the financial market. We believe that tokenized gold has the potential to become a widely-used asset class.

Tokenized Gold Regulations: Current Status and Future Developments

When it comes to tokenized gold, regulations and future developments are important factors to consider. Just like how traffic laws vary from state to state, regulations for tokenized gold also vary depending on the jurisdiction. In some cases, tokenized gold may be treated as a digital asset, subject to the same regulatory framework as other cryptocurrencies, in other cases, it may be treated as a financial instrument and be subject to different regulatory requirements.

The regulatory landscape for tokenized gold is still a work in progress and it’s not yet clear how it will be treated in different jurisdictions. Some countries have taken a more hands-off approach while others have put in place specific regulations and policies.

Now, think of tokenized gold as a new car model, it’s exciting and full of potential, but regulations and laws are still being written to ensure that it operates safely on the road.

To conclude, as more people become aware of tokenized gold and the benefits it offers, we believe that is possible that it will become more widely used as a store of value, a hedge against inflation, or a speculative investment. Governments and regulatory bodies will continue to consider how to approach the regulation of tokenized gold and other digital assets. This could result in the creation of new policies and regulations, or the modification of existing ones. As the market for tokenized gold grows, it is possible that new financial products and services will be created that incorporate tokenized gold or are denominated in it, and there will be increased competition among providers of tokenized gold which could lead to increased innovation and lower prices for consumers.

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CAIZ MEDIUM

CAIZ: Uniting tradition with fintech for ethical, secure & fiqh-compliant financial freedom.