As banks continue to expand real-world asset tokenisation beyond institutional markets, DBS is bringing the concept to everyday investors with a new digital gold offering backed by physical bullion stored in Singapore. Singapore-based banking group DBS Group has announced plans to launch tokenised physical gold for retail customers in the second half of 2026, allowing users to buy, hold, trade and redeem gold directly through its digibank platform.
The new offering, called DBS Physical Gold Tokens, will give retail investors digital access to gold ownership through blockchain-based tokens backed on a one-to-one basis by physical gold held in a dedicated DBS vault in Singapore.
Each token will represent one gram of physical gold, lowering the barrier to entry for investors seeking exposure to the precious metal without purchasing larger bullion products. Customers will be able to trade their holdings around the clock through a single digital platform and redeem tokens for physical gold if required.
Expanding Retail Access to Alternative Assets
The launch marks what DBS describes as the first retail offering in Singapore that combines access, custody, trading and redemption of tokenised physical gold within a single banking ecosystem.
The move comes amid sustained investor interest in gold as a hedge against inflation, geopolitical uncertainty and market volatility. While gold prices have experienced significant fluctuations this year, the asset continues to attract demand from investors seeking portfolio diversification and capital preservation.
By tokenising physical gold, DBS aims to make the asset class more accessible to retail investors through fractional ownership, removing some of the traditional barriers associated with purchasing and storing physical bullion.
Singapore Strengthens Its Position as a Gold Hub
The initiative also aligns with Singapore’s broader ambition to establish itself as a leading global precious metals and digital asset hub.
Tokenisation has emerged as a major focus across financial markets, enabling ownership rights in physical assets to be represented digitally and transferred more efficiently. Financial institutions worldwide are increasingly exploring tokenised versions of bonds, funds, commodities and other real-world assets as part of wider digital asset strategies.
DBS said it is also exploring the possibility of listing the gold tokens on its digital asset marketplace, the DBS Digital Exchange, potentially opening access to accredited investors and institutional participants in the future.
What This Means for the Industry
- Tokenised real-world assets are moving beyond institutional pilots and into mainstream retail banking.
- Gold becomes more accessible through fractional ownership and digital distribution channels.
- Banks are increasingly combining traditional asset classes with blockchain infrastructure.
- Singapore continues to position itself as a regional centre for digital assets and precious metals trading.
- The initiative could encourage other banks to explore tokenised commodities and alternative investment products.
