- DBS Bank plans to offer tokenized gold trading to retail customers in the second half of 2026.
- Each DBS Physical Gold Token will represent one gram of physical gold held by the bank in a dedicated Singapore vault.
- The move shows how real-world assets, such as gold, are being brought onto blockchain-based rails for easier access.
Singapore-based DBS Bank is preparing to make physical gold easier for everyday customers to access through tokenization.
According to a June 11 CoinDesk report, DBS plans to launch DBS Physical Gold Tokens on its digibank platform in the second half of 2026. The bank is also considering making the product available on DBS Digital Exchange, its platform for accredited investors and institutions.
Tokenized gold means a traditional asset is represented as a digital token. In this case, each token is expected to be backed by one gram of real physical gold held by DBS in a dedicated vault in Singapore. The bank said it will handle the tokenization, issuing, distribution and management of the product itself.
The announcement is part of a wider shift toward real-world asset tokenization. Real-world assets, often called RWAs, are assets such as gold, bonds or funds that are represented digitally on blockchain infrastructure. Supporters argue this can make assets easier to trade, divide into smaller units and access through digital platforms.
DBS said demand for physical gold among its wealth clients has more than doubled over the past three years. The bank has offered physical gold investments to wealth clients since 2013, but access has generally been more limited for retail investors.
James Tan, head of DBS’ investment product and advisory unit, said tokenization can broaden access to gold in a controlled way. The bank has already been active in tokenized finance, including tokenized structured notes on Ethereum and listings connected to Franklin Templeton’s tokenized money market fund and Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin.
For crypto investors and token teams, the DBS launch is another sign that tokenization is moving beyond experiments. It also highlights an important point: the value of a tokenized asset depends not only on the blockchain record, but also on custody, redemption rules and the institution holding the real asset.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not provide financial advice.
