DBS Is Putting Gold on the Blockchain as Demand Surges

Singapore’s largest bank is bringing one of the world’s oldest assets onto blockchain rails. DBS announced it will launch tokenized physical gold for retail customers in the second half of 2026, allowing users to buy, trade, and redeem gold digitally through its banking app. 

However, the move comes as gold prices recently touched a record $5,600 per ounce.

DBS Turning Physical Gold Into Digital Tokens

Under the new offering, each DBS Physical Gold Token will be backed by one gram of physical gold stored in a dedicated DBS vault in Singapore.

At current prices, one gram is worth approximately SGD 200 ($155). With this, customers will be able to buy smaller fractions of gold, trade their holdings 24hours a day, and settle transactions almost instantly using blockchain infrastructure. 

Unlike many digital gold products, investors will also have the option to redeem their tokens for physical gold.

James Tan, DBS Group Head of Investment Products and Advisory, said access to physical gold has traditionally been limited to institutional and accredited investors.

“We are now leveraging tokenisation to broaden access, enabling more retail customers to invest in gold in a safe and meaningful way.”

DBS says it will manage the entire process internally, including vaulting, tokenization, custody, issuance, and distribution.

Gold Demand Is Surging, DBS Says Retail Investors Want In

Gold has become one of the strongest-performing assets in recent years as investors seek protection from inflation and geopolitical tensions.

This year alone, the gold price surged to an all-time high of $5,600 per ounce before pulling back to around $4,112, a decline of roughly 27%. Despite the correction, investors urge to buy gold remains strong.

DBS says the rising interest is already visible among its customers. Physical gold holdings held by the bank’s wealth clients have more than doubled over the past three years, pushing the bank to expand access beyond wealthy investors and institutions.

DBS Is Building More Than a Gold Product

The launch also aligns with Singapore’s overall ambition to become a major global center for gold trading and digital assets.

In recent years, DBS has tokenized structured notes on Ethereum, listed Franklin Templeton’s tokenized money market fund token sgBENJI, and added Ripple USD to its digital asset ecosystem.

The bank is also exploring listing the gold token on the DBS Digital Exchange for institutional and accredited investors.