Tokenized Gold Sparks Industry Divide as Real-World Asset Trend Grows

As traditional investors look for inflation hedges and digital asset advocates push real-world tokenization, opinions are sharply split on whether these tokens represent genuine value or yet another layer of financial abstraction.

Gold’s Rise Rekindles Interest in Digital Bullion

Gold has been on a three-year rally, climbing to an all-time high of $4,380 per ounce in October before settling near $4,100. This renewed momentum has spilled into the crypto sector, where tokenized versions of the precious metal are being touted as a bridge between traditional wealth storage and modern blockchain liquidity.

Tokenized gold projects essentially create blockchain-based tokens backed by physical gold reserves, allowing users to trade exposure to the metal without the logistical burden of owning or storing it. The idea has attracted both innovators and skeptics, as questions persist over whether such assets are truly “on-chain gold” or merely representations of third-party promises.

Peter Schiff Enters the Tokenization Arena

Economist Peter Schiff, a vocal critic of Bitcoin and a long-time advocate for physical gold, has unexpectedly stepped into the blockchain sector. Schiff recently announced plans to launch a tokenized gold platform and a corresponding neobank that will issue digital tokens representing real gold holdings.

The token, known as Tgold, is designed to make gold ownership more portable and accessible. Schiff claims this approach solves one of the metal’s biggest limitations – its lack of liquidity compared to digital assets.

Despite his usual criticism of cryptocurrencies, Schiff predifcts that tokenized gold will eventually capture part of Bitcoin’s market share by offering tangible backing combined with blockchain convenience. His move has been viewed by some as a validation of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, an emerging narrative that links traditional commodities with digital networks.

CZ Pushes Back Against “Trust-Based” Tokens

Not everyone shares Schiff’s optimism. Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the former CEO of Binance, dismissed the concept as an illusion of decentralization. Writing on X, CZ argued that tokenized gold does not equate to holding gold directly but rather depends entirely on trust in a custodian’s promise.

Other financial analysts joined the critique. Shanaka Anslem Perera, a market researcher, described tokenized gold as “a repackaged version of 20th-century custodial finance dressed in 21st-century code.” He pointed to historical precedents – from the 1933 Gold Confiscation to the 1971 U.S. gold window closure – as reminders that physical gold under third-party control can be seized, restricted, or defaulted upon.

Perera’s argument, echoed by many traditionalists, highlights the central risk that tokenized gold investors face: custodial failure. If the underlying reserves cannot be verified or accessed, the token’s promise of “backing” could evaporate overnight.

Industry Remains Divided

These conflicting viewpoints have fueled heated discussions across financial and crypto circles. Supporters see tokenized gold as a practical evolution of the precious metal, offering global liquidity, fractional ownership, and easier settlement. Critics view it as a step backward – replacing self-custody and sovereignty with digital IOUs dependent on corporate intermediaries.

Despite skepticism, the sector continues to grow rapidly. The market capitalization of tokenized gold products now exceeds $3.8 billion, with Tether Gold (XAUT) and PAX Gold (PAXG) leading the market, holding over $1.5 billion and $1.3 billion in assets respectively, according to data from RWA.xyz.

The Road Ahead for Digital Gold

While the debate over tokenized gold’s legitimacy continues, its market trajectory remains unmistakably upward. For some, it represents a seamless blend of blockchain efficiency and tangible value; for others, it is simply a high-tech version of old-world trust.

What is clear, however, is that the conversation surrounding tokenized commodities has expanded beyond theory. With gold at historic highs, institutional products like Bitwise’s proposed tokenization ETF, and ongoing experiments from figures like Schiff, the race to define the next evolution of “digital gold” is already underway.

Whether tokenized gold will prove to be a revolution in asset mobility or another fragile financial construct built on promises remains one of the defining questions for the next phase of the crypto economy.