Recently, the Hong Kong Gold Exchange, in collaboration with local banks and custodians, has finalized a pilot schedule for gold tokenization. The innovative model of "1 troy ounce equals 1 on chain token" will be launched in the second quarter of 2026, relying on blockchain technology and central bank level treasury protection to achieve 7 × 24 hours of global uninterrupted delivery. This measure not only injects digital momentum into gold trading, but is also seen as a landmark layout for Hong Kong to compete in the physical asset on chain track. The compliance template it constructs will provide key references for the subsequent tokenization of core assets such as real estate and bonds.
Gold is naturally compatible with tokenization and has strategic value. As the most widely recognized precious metal globally, gold has both value storage and hedging properties, but traditional trading has long been constrained by long delivery cycles, difficult cross-border circulation, and high investment barriers. Hong Kong's plan accurately solves industry problems: "1:1 anchoring of physical gold" relies on central bank level treasury reserves to build a solid foundation of trust and avoid the risk of RWA asset inflation from the root; Blockchain technology has revolutionized the transaction process, compressing traditional T+2 delivery to near real-time, establishing a complete traceability chain based on the immutability of distributed ledgers, and enhancing transparency and compliance; 7 × 24-hour global delivery breaks time and space limitations, helping gold connect with real-time global liquidity.
Against the backdrop of accelerated expansion in the RWA industry, Hong Kong has chosen gold as the "leading force" for physical asset on chain, combining market logic and strategic considerations. Data shows that the total value of the global RWA market will exceed 24 billion US dollars in the first half of 2025, an increase of 380% compared to 2022. Precious metals and fixed income assets have become the preferred landing scenarios for institutions due to their high standardization and controllable risks. The World Gold Council's "Digital Gold" program has validated market demand, and its "Gold Equity Pool" (PGI) has lowered the investment threshold to one thousandth of an ounce, activating the retail market. The pilot upgrade of the "exchange+bank+custodian institution" collaborative model in Hong Kong aims to build a full chain compliance ecosystem, in line with the international RWA "regulatory+technological" dual wheel driving trend, and to meet the global demand for compliant digital asset allocation.
The deeper significance lies in the fact that this pilot will establish Hong Kong's position as a core hub for RWA. As an international financial center, Hong Kong RWA adheres to the concept of "compliance first, ecological synergy" in its layout. Previously, the stablecoin regulation established a regulatory framework for digital assets, and the issuance of digital green bonds verified the feasibility of the "official pilot+market practice" model. The custody standards, delivery processes, and compliance mechanisms formed by the tokenization of gold can be directly applied to complex RWA scenarios such as real estate and bonds. The real estate industry can learn from the logic of asset splitting to lower the threshold for ordinary investors; The bond industry relies on blockchain to automate the payment of principal and interest through smart contracts, improving efficiency and reducing default risks.
From a global competitive perspective, this pilot is a key measure for Hong Kong to seize the initiative in the RWA track. The current EU has established a hierarchical regulatory framework for RWA through the MiCA Act, and Dubai, Singapore, and other countries are actively promoting related tokenization projects. The global RWA hub competition has begun. Hong Kong, with its advantages in financial infrastructure, cross-border capital circulation, and offshore RMB market, has built differentiated competitiveness through pilot projects: on the one hand, it links with the mainland to undertake the demand for high-quality asset on chain, and creates a "Chinese asset anchor" global circulation hub; On the other hand, relying on the advantage of international capital aggregation, attracting funds from institutions in the Middle East, Europe, and America to participate, forming a cross regional liquidity pool. Industry analysis points out that this pilot is not only a digital transformation of a single asset, but also an important layout for Hong Kong to reconstruct its financial infrastructure and consolidate its position as an international financial center.
HongKong.info Committed to providing fair and transparent reports. This article aims to provide accurate and timely information, but should not be construed as financial or investment advice. Due to the rapidly changing market conditions, we recommend that you verify the information yourself and consult a professional before making any decisions based on this information.
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