What Even Is Tokenized Gold?
Tokenized gold is exactly what it sounds like: real, physical gold bars sitting in a vault somewhere, with ownership represented by a digital token on a blockchain. One token = one troy ounce of gold.
The two big players are PAX Gold (PAXG) by Paxos and Tether Gold (XAUT) by Tether. Both claim 1:1 backing with allocated gold bars stored in London vaults. You can even look up the serial number of "your" bar.
The Case for Tokenized Gold
Advantages
- ✔Instant liquidity. Buy or sell 24/7 on any crypto exchange. No waiting for dealers to open.
- ✔Fractional ownership. Buy $50 worth of gold, not just whole bars ($4k+).
- ✔No storage hassle. No safe, no insurance, no worrying about theft.
- ✔Portability. Move millions across borders in your phone wallet.
The Case for Physical Gold
Advantages
- ✔Zero counterparty risk. You hold it, you own it. No company can freeze your account.
- ✔Works without internet. In a grid-down scenario, your crypto is useless.
- ✔5,000+ year track record. Every empire has fallen. Gold is still here.
- ✔Privacy. Cash transactions under $10k require no reporting in NZ.
The Honest Truth
Here's the thing most "gold vs crypto" articles won't tell you: they serve different purposes.
Tokenized gold is great for trading and speculation. If you're actively managing a portfolio and want gold exposure without the hassle, PAXG is perfect.
Physical gold is for wealth preservation and insurance. It's what you hold for the scenario where everything else fails. The "break glass in case of emergency" asset.
Our Take
Own both. Physical for the foundation (10-20% of portfolio). Tokenized for the flexibility. And hey, if you're in NZ, you can literally find gold in the rivers for free.
How to Buy in New Zealand
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