A guide to gold-backed cryptocurrency

Gold-backed cryptocurrency is a type of crypto stablecoin where each token is backed with physical gold. With the token price pegged to the current gold price, there is less price volatility compared to Bitcoin or other altcoins.

The most famous stablecoin is Tether (USDT), where 1 Tether token is in theory backed by 1 USD. Technically any asset could be used as backing for a cryptocurrency, but outside of fiat currency gold is the most obvious choice.

Bitcoin has been described by crypto enthusiasts as the new gold, and in 2017 the price of 1 Bitcoin reached parity with gold (by ounce in USD). It was around this time there was a surge in interest with the concept of gold-backed cryptocurrencies. It’s now become a popular way to buy gold online.

This article is the definitive guide to gold-backed cryptocurrencies. It lists every active gold-backed crypto project, as well as inactive and defunct projects.

A brief history of digital gold currency

The idea of a digital gold currency as an alternative payment system is almost as old as the internet itself. Not long after the internet went mainstream, E-Gold emerged in 1995 as the first digital currency backed entirely by gold. At its peak, millions of people around the world were using this service until it was shut down.

Other attempts to make a digital gold currency have been made, but this was before the age of Bitcoin. With blockchain technology established as a secure accounting method, and with Bitcoin becoming better known to the general public, a new era of gold-backed digital currencies has emerged.

There is a proverbial (and literal) gold rush happening in the crypto world, with numerous variations of gold-backed tokens on offer. Even countries are looking to issue their own gold-based cryptocurrency.

The basic concept is certainly compelling. A token or coin is issued that represents a value of gold (for example 1 gram of gold equals 1 coin). The gram of gold is stored by a trusted custodian (preferably third party), and can be traded with other coin holders.

At a minimum the price of the coin will always equal the current gold rate. If the cryptocurrency becomes popular then the price of the coin can potentially increase in value, greater than the value of gold. If the cryptocurrency doesn’t take off then the value remains as the value of the gram of gold. It’s like a built-in stop-loss.

There of course risks as well. While the blockchain accounts for the coins, accounting for physical stored gold is another matter. When evaluating such tokens, look for who actually owns the gold and how it is stored. Is there actual gold, or is it like a gold ETF where it’s just tracking the price of gold.

In this regard our online gold partner BullionVault as a good example of accountable gold storage. When evaluating a gold crypto make sure that you own the gold. As you will discover in this article, there are many coins that are now buried in the crypto graveyard. If the gold is not legally owned by the crypto developer then they can’t take the gold if they go out of business.

Update: This list continues to evolve with tokens being launched and going bust on a regular basis. The list is continually being revised, so subscribe to the weekly gold newsletter for the latest updates. The newsletter covers the most important gold news of the week, gold price updates and gold price forecasts.

If there are any missing or need updating then contact me.

An alternative to gold-backed cryptocurrency is to buy gold with Bitcoin at Vaultoro. Your gold is fully insured and 100% allocated in your name. Gold is stored in top-tier Swiss vaulting facilities for a low monthly storage fee. BONUS OFFER! Sign up through our link and trade a minimum of €500 worth of gold, and receive 1/2 a gram of gold for free. Get your free gold, or read more about Vaultoro.

Gold-backed cryptocurrency directory

This is a current list of gold-backed cryptocurrencies. This is a directory and not an editorial endorsement, so research all of the alternatives before investing. Some of the cryptocurrencies listed here don’t detail how they store and account for gold either, so proceed with caution. Any questions regarding each coin should be referred to their social media channel or forum listing.

Since this post was first published there have been new coins added to the list and some are now ready to buy. Many have also fallen by the wayside, with some projects going quiet or entering the crypto graveyard.

Initial Coin Offering (ICO)

An Initial Coin Offering (ICO) is how a new cryptocurrency raises money for its startup. A token is given a set rate, and there maybe bonuses for early buyers. It is rare to be able to buy ICO tokens with fiat currency, so you will need a stash of Bitcoin or Ethereum first.

Airgead

Name: Airgead

Location: Dublin, Ireland.

Website: airgeadcoin.io

The Airgead Coin allows you to merge precious metals within one cryptocoin. Along with gold, you can merge silver, platinum, and palladium coins/bars as a basis for a worldwide currency. You can merge any amount of precious metals into a single Airgead Coin, and you can actually see what your Airgead Coin is merged with.

The ICO is on until March, 2020.

DRCG coin

Name: DRCG coin (DRCG)

Location:

Website: drcgold.io

The DRCG coin ICO proceeds go into expanding operations and to meet mining costs of a gold mining operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Members who purchase or use the DRC Gold Coin will be rewarded with gold or any other means of their choice as outlined. The mining operations are managed by Emmax Systems Inc. which is an affiliate of CryptoXL Limited.

Golden Currency

Name: Golden Currency (PGCT)

Location: Singapore

Website: goldencurrency.world

Golden Currency plans to be first global private currency on blockchain, both paper and electronic, 100% backed by gold. Pre-ICO on until July 2018.

Guardian Gold

Name: Guardian Gold (GGT)

Location: .

Website: guardian-gold.com

Guardian Gold is a gold secured crypto currency based on blockchain technology. Each GGT token is backed by 1 gram of 99.99% gold cast bars from London Bullion Market Association approved refiners. Guardian Gold token holders can transfer funds to anyone in 15 seconds. Guardian Gold features a unique 15% Proof of Stake Reward to all GGT token holders. 15% of net proceeds from every new GGT token purchase is distributed to all GGT holders.

Troy Gold

Name: Troy Gold (GOLD)

Location: Malta.

Website: troy.gold

TROY’s token, known as GOLD, provides the opportunity to purchase TROY’s gold products using the Blockchain. Gold mined by Bullseye Mining ltd (Australia) will be used to create TROY’s gold products. Bullseye’s gold will be stored in vaults at the government controlled Perth Mint – Australia. TROY’s GOLD tokens will be issued on the Ethereum platform.

Private sale is on now.

Exchange Listings

Once the ICO is over the token will then become available for public exchange on a set date. There are hundreds of cryptocurrency exchanges, but not all exchanges list all tokens. The token website will list which exchange you can buy and sell at, and you will most likely end up opening accounts at a few different exchanges.

This list is all the gold-backed cryptocurrencies that are live and tradable on exchanges.

Anthem Gold

Name: ANTHEM (AGLD)

Location: USA.

Website: anthemgold.com

Anthem Gold is a cryptocurrency developed by Anthem Vault Inc. Each ANTHEM (AGLD) is backed by one gram of physical gold, securely vaulted with a nonbank operator and fully insured. The AGLD token launched in April 2019.

AGLD can be bought on the Anthem Gold Edge Wallet.

Aurus

Name: AurusGOLD (AWG)

Location: Cardiff, UK.

Website: aurus.io

AurusGOLD (AWG) is a 100% gold-backed cryptocurrency. Each AWG token is fully collateralized with 1 gram of physical gold, stored in partnered, fully audited and insured vaults. AWG is redeemable for physical gold at any time. Aurus charges a modest transaction fee of 0.015% or 0.05 AWG (whichever is greater) to the initiator of each AWG transaction.

Buy AWG at Direct Bullion.

Exchanges with AWG

CBX

BlockNote

Name: BlockNote (BNO)

Location: Tallinn, Estonia.

Website: blocknote.gold

BlockNote is a 100% physical gold backed cryptocurrency regulated within the European Union. Each BlockNote equals 0.01g and gets credited to the client’s individual gold deposit account. Physical investment gold is purchased through a UK-based LBMA member, and is vaulted and insured in Zurich, Switzerland.

BlockNote runs on an inhouse blockchain platform called BlockBen. The platform works as a secure database structure, a blockchain, virtual wallet, infrastructure, validates transactions and smart contracts.

Exchanges with BNO

BlockBenPay Wallet

BlockStock

Name: BlockStock (BSO)

Location: Tallinn, Estonia.

Website: blockstock.gold

BlockStock is BlockBen’s technical cryptocurrency responsible for every transaction validation that occurs on the BlockBen platform. BlockStock has an initial 10% gold-backing, with potential growth from the commission from fees of transactions on the BlockBen platform. The system credits commission in gold and places it into a common gold pool, which will be divided equally among BlockStocks.

Exchanges with BSO

BlockBenPay Wallet

CACHE

Name: CACHE.

Location: Singapore.

Website: cache.gold

One CACHE Gold token is equivalent to one gram of gold. Each token is backed by physical gold securely stored in a vault. All gold is audited, and insured. Gold backing CACHE Gold tokens is publicly verifiable at any time, simply visit the CACHE Explorer to verify CACHE Gold’s backing.

Cash Telex

Name: Cash Telex (CTLX)

Location: Gibraltar.

Website: cashtelex.com

Cash Telex (CTLX coin) is directly pegged to a diversified fund of real assets (gold, diamond, silver and real estate).

Exchanges with CTLX

Cash Telex Exchange

Exchanges with DEC

Idex

Bilaxy

DGLD

Name: DGLD (DGLD)

Location: Switzerland.

Website: dgld.ch

Each DGLD token represents ownership of 1/10th of a fine troy ounce of gold. Prior to the creation of a new token, London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) certified London Good Delivery gold is allocated and placed in PAMP’s Swiss vaults. Then, DGLD representing that specific gold is created and sent to a DGLD whitelisted wallet.

DGLD was created by a consortium comprising of CoinShares, Blockchain, and MKS (Switzerland) SA.

Exchanges with GOLD

Blockchain.com

Digital Gold

Name: Digital Gold (GOLD)

Location: St. Vincent and Grenadines.

Website: gold.storage

GOLD token is a stablecoin backed by real gold bars stored in secure and auditable vault storage at BullionStar. One GOLD token equals to 1 gram of physical gold. The token is based on Ethereum blockchain (ERC-20 standard), and is issued and operated by DIGITAL GOLD LTD company.

Exchanges with GOLD

Cryptex

DigixGlobal

Name: DigixGlobal (DGX and DGD)

Location: 32 Carpenter Street, Singapore.

Website: digix.global

DigixGlobal has created two types of Ethereum tokens – each with unique properties. DGX Digix Gold Token represents 1 gram of 99.99% LMBA standard gold, secured in Safehouse vaults. Digix DAO Tokens (DGD) is used to claim quarterly rewards based on the total DGX collected through transaction fees. The DGD value fluctuates based on exchange rates and market forces.

Exchanges with DGD

Binance

OkEX

DinarCoin

Name: DinarCoin (DNC)

Location: Malaysia.

Website: dinarkripto.com

DinarCoin (DNC) is a crypto asset built and recorded on the public Ethereum blockchain. Each DinarCoin is the digital equivalent of 4.25 grams of 999.9% pure gold and it is together with Gold Smart Contracts can be traded in for physical gold.

DinarCoin was developed by DinarDirham, a gold and blockchain-focused, global FinTech company founded in Southeast Asia and headquartered in Hong Kong.

Ekon

Name: Ekon (EKG)

Location: Switzerland.

Website: ekon.gold

Ekon is a stable coin developed by Eidoo that is 100% backed by physical gold. Each Ekon token corresponds to 1 gram of gold 999. Ekon is an ERC20 token and you can collect them within the Eidoo wallet.

G-Coin

Name: G-Coin (XGC)

Location: Santa Clara CA, USA

Website: gcoin.com

G-Coin is a digital token backed by responsibly sourced, physical gold. One G-Coin token represents digital ownership of one gram of conflict-free gold stored in an approved vault. Using blockchain technology, responsibly sourced gold is tracked from mine to vault and then digitized into G-Coin tokens.

G-Coin is available through the G-Coin wallet app.

Globcoin

Name: Globcoin (GLX)

Location: Zug, Switzerland.

Website: globcoin.io

Globcoin is a stablecoin backed by a basket of fiat currencies basket from 15 countries in addition to gold.

Exchanges with GLX

Lykke

Goldenugget

Name: GNTO.

Location: Chiasso, Switzerland.

Website: goldenugget.ch

Goldenugget is a crypto platform that allows its token (GNTO) holders to purchase or Dutch auction its mined gold.

Read more here: Goldenugget: A New Stablecoin Pegged To Real Gold.

Exchanges with GNTO

Probit

GoldFinX

Name: GoldFinX (GiX)

Location: Singapore.

Website: goldfinx.com

GoldFinX (GiX) provides financing to Artisanal Small Gold Mines (ASGM) worldwide and gets in exchange a share of their production. The first production of gold will be delivered by Q4 2019 and will accumulate as well as stored indefinitely to protect the value of the GiX coin.

Exchanges with GiX

Coinsbit

GOLDFUND

Name: GOLDFUND (GFUN)

Location: Australia.

Website: goldfund.io

GOLDFUND (GFUN) helps near term precious metals producers get into production by providing the capital they need. In return GOLDFUND is rewarded with part of the production, and made available for purchase with purchased GFUN coins on the ZOMIA Gold Exchange.

Exchanges with GFUN

SOAR

P2PB2B

CATEX

BytepowerX

CoinHub

TokenMom

WorldCore

Goldmint

Name: GoldMint (MNTP)

Location: Moscow, Russia.

Website: goldmint.io

GoldMint offer pawnshop loans secured by gold in Proof of Stake blockchain. The GoldMint platform is built on a private blockchain, based on the Graphene technology.

Exchanges with MNTP

EtherDelta

YoBit.Net

Gold Standard

Name: Gold Standard (AUS)

Location: Brisbane, Australia.

Website: goldsilverstandard.com

The Gold Standard AUS token equals 1 Gram of pure gold bullion. Real bullion is securely stored at Reserve Vault, verified by BDO and fully insured. This tokenised is by Ainslie Wealth, a leading Australian bullion dealer since 1974.

Exchanges with AUS

CoinSpot

Metex Exchange

GOLDX

Name: Gold (GOLDX) Exchange

Location: Gibraltar.

Website: etorox.com

GOLDX is a gold stablecoin offered by eToroX from the eToro Group. The GOLDX price is pegged to one ounce of gold, and trading pairs include GOLDX/BTC and GOLDX/USDEX.

While this is a stablecoin, it’s not a true gold-backed cryptocurrency as the amount of GOLDX coins doesn’t correlate to an allocated gold reserve. Read more at etoro-digital-assets.com

GramGold Coin

Name: GramGold Coin (GGC)

Location: .

Website: gramgold.co

GramGold Coin is pegged to 1 gram of investment grade gold. Every single GGC is issued out of gold already purchased and held by vault service providers instead of crowdfunding. This process is called an ‘Initial Coin Circulation’ (“ICC”), instead of an ‘Initial Coin Offering’ (“ICO”).

Exchanges with GGC

KuCoin

GSX coin

Name: GSX coin (GSX)

Location: .

Website: gsxcde.com

GSX is a stable coin backed by gold and gold-rich land in Zimbabwe. The value of the token will increase as assets are added, and it also pays yearly dividends. It is set up by Apollo Fintech.

Buy GSX

Buy GSX coin with a Apollo Fintech CDE Account.

HelloGold

Name: HelloGold (HGT)

Location: Malaysia.

Website: hellogold.com

HelloGold users can buy and store gold which can be converted to a Gold Backed Token (Goldx), which is backed by 1 gram of gold. The gold is held and accounted for in a partnering vault in Singapore, and it is certified as compliant with the Shari’ah Standard on by the World Gold Council.

Exchanges with HGT

EtherDelta

HitBTC

Jinbi

Name: Jinbi (JNB)

Location: London, UK.

Website: jinbitoken.io

Jinbi is a UK and Belarus token backed by an increasing physical gold floor from the production of gold by the mining partner. Jinbi will create liquidity events following production milestones whereby each coin holder will receive a dividend payable in physical gold or Jinbi Token (JNB). All other funds are reinvested back into Jinbi to continue further gold production.

Exchanges with JNB

Cryptex

DDEX

LiveCoin

Kinesis

Name: Kinesis (KAU)

Location: Cayman Islands.

Website: kinesis.money

Each Kinesis coin represents physical precious metal allocated on a 1:1 basis (1g gold = 1 KAU). Bullion is purchased simultaneously when a Kinesis coin is minted and each coin has bullion directly allocated to it from the moment of being minted into the Kinesis system, for the life of the coin.

KAU is available through the Kinesis Exchange.

Maya Preferred 223

Name: Maya Preferred 223 (MAPR)

Location: U.K.

Website: mayapreferred.io

Maya Preferred 223 (MAPR) is U. K. Financial Ltd.’s ERC 23 token built on the Ethereum Classic blockchain. Maya Preferred will be backed with precious metal assets of gold and silver mine reserves in Mexico. The tokens business plan involves adding more mining assets for backing and thus adding value to itself over time.

Exchanges with MAPR

fatbtc

Catex

Novem

Name: Novem (NNN)

Location: Vaduz, Liechtenstein.

Website: novemgold.com

Using the NEO blockchain platform, Novem have created two cryptocurrency tokens: 999.9 (NNN, gold-backed token), with 100 tokens equals 1 gram of gold and tied to the gold price. A utility token (NOVEM – NVM) is used to pay for services and trading costs relating to the 999.9 gold token.

Novem AG is based in Liechtenstein and their gold reserves are stored in Frankfurt, Germany by Loomis.

Tokens can be bought via their website, and the NNN token will soon be published on cryptocurrency exchanges.

OneGram

Name: OneGram Coin (OGC)

Location: 2E MO17 East Side, DAFZ, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Website: onegram.org

Each OneGram Coin (OGC) is backed by one gram of gold and is Sharia-compliant. Gold is held in vaults located within Dubai Airport’s high-security compound, and managed by OneGram’s partner GoldGuard – a Dubai-based gold trading company.

There is a maximum of 12,400,786 OGC available, and unsold coins will be permanently destroyed after the Initial Coin Offering.

OneGram is listed on its own virtual exchange at Huulk.

OZEETY

Name: OZEETY (OZTG)

Location: London, UK.

Website: ozeety.com

OZTG is a privacy gold-pegged coin minted through the OZEETY Blockchain using proof of-stake (PoS) and Zerocoin-proof-of-stake (ZPoS) hybrid consensus algorithm, allowing anonymous transactions.

OZEETY is by Flash Group, a blockchain-powered fintech company that offers a physical gold-pegged cryptocurrency, innovative payment solutions and a smart contract-based advertising solution.

OZTG is available at FlashXchanger.

PAX Gold

Name: PAX Gold (PAXG)

Location: New York, USA.

Website: paxos.com

PAX Gold (PAXG) is a digital asset where one token is backed by one fine troy ounce (t oz) of a 400 oz London Good Delivery gold bar, stored in Brink’s gold vaults. Anyone who owns PAXG owns the underlying physical gold, held in custody by Paxos Trust Company.

Exchanges with PAXG

Paxos

Pecunio

Name: Pecunio (PGX)

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Website: pecun.io

Pecunio is a one-stop-shop for cryptocurrencies: A cryptofund, a cryptocard and an exchange. Pecunio’s gold-backed token PGX represents exactly 1 gram of 999.9 fine gold (segregated, unallocated) from LBMA approved refineries.

Exchanges with PGX

LATOKEN

Perth Mint Gold Token

Name: Perth Mint Gold Token (PMGT)

Location: Sydney, Australia.

Website: pmgt.io

InfiniGold launched PMGT as the first digital gold token on a public blockchain backed by government guaranteed gold.

PMGT allows you to trade and hold gold stored at The Perth Mint on the blockchain. PMGT tokenises GoldPass certificates, where 1 PMGT = 1 oz GoldPass certificate = 1 oz pure physical gold. PMGT may be exchanged for GoldPass certificates. Equally GoldPass certificates may be exchanged for PMGT. In each direction the exchange rate is 1:1. The exchange is performed by InfiniGold, and no exchange fee applies.

Exchanges with PMGT

Trade with the GoldPass app from The Perth Mint.

PureGold

Name: PureGold (PGT and PGG)

Location: Singapore

Website: puregold.io

Puregold is a payment gateway using Gold backed cryptocurrency. They offer two digital tokens called PGT for transactions; and PGG which is a cryptoasset backed by physical gold.

The company uses physical gold (of 999.9 quality) as its security. Puregold’s gold reserves equal or exceed its circulated amounts of PGG gold-backed tokens. The physical gold is stored by a third party in a decentralized storage unit that Puregold stores investment grade gold, gold jewellery, small ingots (up to 100 grams) and coins.

Puregold is part of Puregold.sg, which is a private mint in Singapore with its own in-house factory producing gold and bars.

Exchanges with PGT

Token Store

Tether Gold

Name: Tether Gold (XAUt)

Location: ?

Website: gold.tether.to

Tether Gold (XAUt) is a gold-backed stable coin launched by the fiat-backed Tether. Tether Gold is a digital asset pegged to physical gold (XAU) issued by TG Commodities Limited. One XAUt token represents one troy fine ounce of gold on a London Good Delivery gold bar. XAUt tokens will be capable of being fractionalized up to six decimal places (i.e. in increments as small as 0.000001 troy fine ounce). Gold is fully accountable and held in a Switzerland vault.

Exchanges with XAUt

Bitfinex

The Midas Touch Gold

Name: The Midas Touch Gold (TMTG)

Location: Seoul, South Korea.

Website: dgex.io

The TMTG Project is composed of three main elements:

TMTG Tokens:TMTG coins is as a utility token, are used only as a means of purchasing virtual currency on the DGE platform.

MDG Tokens: MDG is a token that is only tradable on the DGE platform which is pegged to 1g of gold as a certificate. MDG Tokens can be purchased on the DGE Platform with TMTG Tokens.

Digital Gold Exchange (DGE): DGE is an online exchange where TMTG tokens can be used to purchase MDG Tokens or real gold.

TPX Gold

Name: TPX Gold (TPX)

Location: Birmingham, UK.

Website: tpxnetwork.com

TPX Gold is gold registered and traded on the blockchain. 1 TPX equals 1 gram of gold. All gold is London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) approved 999.9 fine gold, stored by Brinks and fully insured by Lloyds of London.

Exchanges with TPX

token.store

TrueGoldCoin (TGC)

Name: TrueGoldCoin (TGC)

Location: Charlestown, Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Website: truegoldcoin.com

TrueGoldCoin hold titles for more than 1,800 hectares of mining rights in Colombia. The company that owns True Gold Coin has the license to issue TrueGoldCoin tokens up to a maximum of 10% of the gold reserves held by the trust.

Exchanges with TGC

LATOKEN

USGold

Name: USGold (USG)

Location: USA.

Website: buyusgold.com

USGold (USG) are fully collateralized 1:1 with American Gold Eagle coins. Held in trust and redeemable anytime at redeemusg.com.

Exchanges with USG can be found at buyusgold.com/purchase.

Xaurum

Name: Xaurum (XAUR)

Location: Crystal Palace, BTC City, Ameriška ulica 8, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Website: xaurum.org

Xaurum is coined by exchanging the mined value for physical gold, stored as the CommonWealth gold reserves. It was first coined on a PoS Blackcoin blockchain, and has transitioned to Ethereum.

Exchanges with XAUR

HitBTC

In development

AgAu

Name: AgAu (?)

Location: Zug, Switzerland.

Website: agau.io

AgAu gets its name from the symbol for the chemical elements argentum, for silver, and aurum, for gold. AgAu is fully decentralised ownership of cryptocurrencies 100% backed by physical and allocated gold and silver. 1 AgAu Gold token = 1 g of LBMA Gold, and 1 AgAu Silver token = 1 g of LBMA Silver.

BiGA

Name: BiGA (BIGA)

Location: Istanbul, Turkey.

Website: biga.takasbank.com.tr

BiGA, which is abbreviation of one gram gold (in Turkish), is an infrastructure project based on blockchain technology. It enables secure, controlled and confidential transfers of dematerialized gold, where 1 BiGA = 1 gram of gold. BiGA Digital Gold is a project by İstanbul Settlement and Custody Bank Inc. (Takasbank) from Turkey, fully backed by physical gold reserves with the Borsa Istanbul.

BULLIONBLOCK

Name: BULLIONBLOCK

Location: Hong Kong.

Website: bullionblock.world

BULLIONBLOCK is developing a decentralized mobile payment gateway platform on its own blockchain, delivering transparent instant and secure options for remittance and financial transactions protected by physical gold and silver bullion.

Counos

Name: Counos

Location: Switzerland.

Website: counos.io

Counos Coin offers a selection asset-backed cryptocurrencies including major currencies, silver, and gold. Each asset class is capped at 21,000,000 coins (like Bitcoin). Counos Gold will have real gold with the same value preserved in Switzerland banks.

DaVinci Token

Name: DaVinci Token

Location: Geneva, Switzerland.

Website: davincitoken.com

The DaVinci Token is the digital ownership title of an irreversibly allocated DaVinci Gold Coin weighing one ounce of 24 karat gold. All minted DaVinci Pure Gold Coins are bearing a nano laser engraved QR code scanned to be registered in a blockchain and are securely held in vaults for the Company by BRINKS in Zurich. The DaVinci Token was created and launched by Gold Global Currency Corp. SA.

Egypt Cryptocoin

Name: EGYPT (EGY)

Location: Mexico.

Website: egyptcryptocoin.com

The upcoming ICO will offer 1 EGY = 0.1 US Dollar. The public share of 650000000 EGY is gold-backed by depositing all the token paid value in BullionVault and a monthly report will be available for the public to see it through the website.

FutureGold

Name: FutureGold

Location: Perth, Australia.

Website: futuregold.com.au

FutureGold is a proposed cryptoasset to be backed by secured royalty streams from future gold production, and developed to provide funding to emerging gold mining producers via Blockchain technology. The offering will be fully compliant with Australian securities law.

More information here.

GODcoin

Name: GODcoin (GOD)

Location: USA

Website: godcoin.gold

GODcoin is “the official coin of Christ” and offers gold and silver-backed cryptocurreny. It’s also “endorsed by God the Heavenly Father, and issued by the Messiah, Lord Ra-El.” One gold token (GOD) is worth one ounce of physical gold. One silver token (SOD) is worth one ounce of physical silver.

While looking for information for this I found another GOD coin so I’m not sure what 3-letter code they will use.

Goldchain

Name: TruGold

Location: Wyoming, USA.

Website: goldchaincrypto.io

Goldchain offer tokenized precious metals with provenance and origin on the EOS Blockchain. TruGold is the first token in the Goldchain suite of products offered to customers. The circulating supply of TruGold represents materials extracted and weighed from the processing plant.

There is no ICO or Airdrop associated with this project.

GoldGramCoin

Name: GoldGramCoin (GGC)

Location: Singapore.

Website: goldgramcoin.com

GoldGramCoin (GGC) represents 100% direct ownership of 99.99% investment-grade, pure physical gold. 1 GGC = 1 gram of fine gold. The title is maintained by a cryptographically secure blockchain database that investors can utilize to verify ownership. The physical gold is securely stored in the Gold Vault and is fully deliverable upon request at any time. Gold ownership is verified using blockchain technology to ensure data accuracy and tracking.

GOLD.IO

Name:

Location: Cayman Islands.

Website: gold.io

GOLD.IO plans to be the first cross-blockchain DEX (Decentralized EXchange) and DAC (Decentralized Autonomous Community). The mission of GOLD.IO is to create an infrastructure ruled by like-minded individuals, sharing the same vision and idea for the future of the decentralized community-governed gold market.

Goldlinks

Name: Goldlinks

Location: Singapore.

Website: goldlinks.one

Goldlinks is a global gold industry alliance, every 100 GGC is pegged to 1 gram of fine gold.

Goldzip

Name: Goldzip (Gz)

Location: Hong Kong, China.

Website: goldzip.com

Goldzip token project is issued and regulated by Chinese Gold and Silver Exchange (CGSE) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Each Gz is equivalent to the delivery execution right of 1 mg gold in the Goldzip system.

Meld

Name: Meldcoin (MELD)

Location: Melbourne, Australia.

Website: meld.gold

Meld is a gold-backed digital currency that’s supported by an open network of partners. At the heart of Meld is Melbourne Mint -the platform’s founding partner.

Meld is built on two tokens: A gold-backed currency where 1 token = 1 gram of physical gold, stored in secure vaulting facilities, fully redeemable for physical gold. A security token will earn gold via every transaction.

META 1 Coin

Name: META 1 Coin

Location: Boca Raton, FL, USA.

Website: meta1.io

META 1 Coin is secured by a diverse mix of assets including gold mines, bars, bonds and other precious metal securities. META 1 Coin infrastructure includes a private blockchain “META Block”, a private bank and exchange allowing transactions as well as liquidity and security.

MetalStream

Name: MetalStream (MSGLD)

Location: Labuan, Malaysia.

Website: metalstream.io

MetalStream Gold (MSGLD) tokens are gold-backed, ERC-1400 compliant security tokens backed by and redeemable for bullion. MSGLD are securities fully backed by physical gold extracted from mines in several countries to reduce risk.

OLegacy

Name: OToken

Location:

Website: olegacy.com

A blockchain platform that generates the OToken, 100% backed by gold to save, transfer, transact, redeem or spend. 1 OToken = 1/1,000 of gold’s spot price. No ICO.

Quantum Gold

Name: Quantum Gold (QTG)

Location: Macau.

Website: qtg.io

Quantum Gold Token is a cryptocurrency that combines backing by a physical gold reserve and income from forthcoming production of gold from selected gold mines. For each QTG Token, half of the proceeds (net of expenses) will be allocated to purchase physical 999 gold and stored in Real Gold Reserve (RGR). The other half of the proceeds will be stored in Growing Token Reserve (GTR), which will be invested in selected gold mines. Every year in return, an agreed portion of gold production from the mines will go to the Real Gold Reserve (RGR).

Quintric

Name: Quintric (?)

Location: Utah, USA.

Website: quintric.com

Quintric combines cryptocurrencies with real gold and silver coins using the Bitshares platform.

For the gold token, “each Quint token constitutes five U.S. gold cents (one 1/1000th of a one-ounce, U.S. legal tender, gold coin) payable on demand in minimum 1,000 token increments for an American Eagle/Buffalo gold coin, bearing a fifty dollar face value.”

The gold coins are stored in a fully audited vault and deliverable upon request. There is no ICO for this project. Instead, a pre-launch promotion is on until the 4th of July, 2018.

X8currency

Name: X8currency (X8C)

Location: Zug, Switzerland

Website: x8currency.com

X8Currency is positioning itself as stable token for crypto investors. X8C is an Ethereum token, 100% backed by a combination of 8 fiat currencies and gold. Each token is represented with assets deposited in bank accounts. Gold is held in physical reserves in the format of gold coins. The percentage of each currency and gold is unclear.

xbullion

Name: xbullion (GOLD)

Location: .

Website: xbullion.io

The xbullion token (GOLD) is a digital asset representing 1 gram of investment grade gold bullion. Backed by 1kg .9999 gold bars sourced from some of the world’s most reputable suppliers.

ZenGold

Name: ZenGold (ZGC)

Location: China.

Website: zengold.org

ZenGold is a cryptocurrency is backed by physical gold. Each ZNG token represents 1 gram of 99.99% Gold reserved in Shanghai Gold Exchange Vault.

Status unknown

AurumCoin

Name: AurumCoin (AU)

Location: ?

Website: aurumcoin.com

Each AurumCoin is backed with 1 gram of gold, and the gold content will then be increased to 1 ounce. When you buy an AurumCoin you buy a digital proof for 1 gram of gold stored and insured in professional high-security gold vaults in Zurich, London, New York, Toronto, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

The site doesn’t say where the gold is stored or how much is in storage. The AU token was on the Cryptopia exchange, where AurumCoin says it was hit with a 51 percent attack.

The message board at Bitcoin Talk is still active.

Exchanges with AU

Cryptopia

BullionCoin

Name: BullionCoin (XAAU)

Location: Isle of Man.

Website: bullioncoin.com

Bullioncoin is a gold and silver backed cryptocurency. Gold Bullioncoin (XAAU) is equal to one gram of gold, and silver Bullioncoin (XAAG) is be equal to 50 grams of silver. There is also a Debit MasterCard available which can use your Bullioncoins for every day purchases.

The site is offline with the message: “BullionCoin is undergoing some updates inline with the recent GDPR regulations and will be back online soon.”

Cyronium

Name: Cyronium (CYRO)

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia.

Website: cyronium.com

Cyronium is a gold-backed crypto from Indonesia. Every 1 CYRO token has a guarantee of 1 Cyronium coin. 1 Cyronium coin consists of 20 grams of 99% gold LBMA (London Bullion Market Association). Where Cyronium differ from other offerings is they are offering the option of physical coins that will represent the CYRO token. If you elect to take the physical coin the CYRO token will be destroyed to avoid duplication. The coin will be shipped along with the certificate to the investor’s address. Physical gold will be held in vaults in Singapore.

ICO will be conducted on May 26, 2018. After ICO, Cyronium can be traded in Santara marketplace (www.santara.co.id).

The website is not loading and there have been no updates on social media.

Doradocoin

Name: Doradocoin ()

Location: Santiago, Chile.

Website: doradocoin.io

Another claiming to be the world’s first gold-backed cryptocurrency, Doradocoin tokens are issued to attract investments into an existing gold production enterprise in Chile. There’s no contact details or details of the token, or where the mined gold will be stored.

The website has since stopped working.

EAU-COIN

Name: GELT

Location: Gothenburg, Sweden.

Website: eau-coin.is

EAU-COIN (pronounced “O-COIN”) is a gold-backed crypto token on an Ethereum-based blockchain smart contract. EAU-COIN is directly backed by real gold assets 100% owned by EAU-COIN with no liens or leverage. The tokens are issued in rounds with a built-in 20% bonus for the holders. At least 2 rounds will be issued every year of a fixed USD value related to fixed in ground gold assets that are being mined out.

The website has since gone offline.

Egold

Name: Egold (EGD)

Location: London, UK

Website: egold.trade

Egold (not related to E-gold) runs on a blockchain ledger and works through a digitized cryptoasset called GOLD whose cryptocurrency value is based on physical gold. Egold uses its own blockchain and altcoin, called EGD, for GOLD transactions.

The site has since gone offline and it has been flagged as a possible scam at bitcointalk.org.

GoldCrypto

Name: GoldCrypto (AUX)

Location: Belize

Website: goldcrypto.io

AuX tokens by GoldCrypto are a cryptocurrency backed by physical gold. Currently, each 750 AuX Tokens will be backed by one ounce of gold (approximately US$1.70 per AuX Token). This gold backing per AuX Token then progressively increases.

GoldCrypto ICO finished on August 31, 2018 and the goldcrypto.io website now redirects to goldsecure.io which is currently being updated.

Goldma

Name: Goldma (GMA)

Location: Zimbabwe.

Website: goldma.io

Goldma (Gold Mining Assets) is described as Africa’s first crypto-based gold royalty token. GMA is a token backed by a fully licensed and operational gold mine in Zimbabwe. So the token itself is not gold-backed, rather the gold is sold to the Reserve Bank and Ether is bought with the proceeds.

The main ICO ended October 12, 2018, and the website now shows a “coming soon” landing page with no other information.

GoldBlocks

Name: GoldBlocks (GB)

Location: Slovenia

Website: mygoldblocks.com

GoldBlocks is a blockchain based MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) mining site that also has gold-backed something or other. I don’t know how to describe this as the website just says a bunch of buzzwords without clearly describing what it does. It says they “work with various gold trading platforms”, the site is incomplete with broken links. The coin is trading and you can read updates here.

The site has since gone offline – awaiting further details.

GoldMineCoin

Name: GoldMineCoin (GMC)

Location: Russia.

Website: goldminecoin.io

GoldMineCoin is – as the name suggests – is a coin backed by a gold mine. This crypto-currency is secured by gold deposits in the Magadan Region of the Russian Federation. This set up resembles the exploratory mining companies that frequent the penny stock listings. You have a high risk of not finding gold and potential high reward of hitting a productive gold mine.

Pre-ICO ran until August 2018. The site has since gone offline – looking for more information on this.

GoldVein

Name: Gold Vein Token (CVT)

Location: Russia.

Website: goldvein.io

GoldVein is a blockchain platform for investment in gold mining. The gold value of the token increases in value depending on the amount of gold mined.

The Pre-ICO runs from April-June 2018, ICO August-September 2018, and tokens will be placed on exchanges December 2018.

The site has now gone offline.

Karatcoin

Name: Karatcoin (KCG)

Location: London, UK.

Website: karatcoin.co

Karatcoin is a platform to trade gold certificates, exchange Karatcoin tokens, as well as save and exchange currency using gold cards. KCG (GOLD Token) is the token used in the Karat Blockchain. It represents 1 gram of 99.99% LBMA standard gold secured in safehouse vaults.

The site hasn’t been updated since 2018.

Karatgold

Name: KaratGold (KBC)

Location: Stuttgart, Germany.

Website: karatgold-kbc.com

Each coin represents a certain weight of gold and can be exchanged into physical gold in the form of CashGold. On 4 July, 2019 100 KBC will equal 1g of gold.

KBC is listed on its own exchange — Karatbit.com. Trade USD, KBC, BTC and ETH for gold (which Karatbars calls Unival or UNV).

In 2019 Germany’s Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) ordered ‘KaratGold Coin’ issuer to cease operations.

KaratCoin Bank

Name: KaratCoin Bank Coin (KCB)

Location: Stuttgart, Germany.

Website: karatcoinbank.io

Related to KaratGold is KaratCoin Bank, which is creating an international payment system that will serve the blockchain-based economy. It’s based on the following projects: Karatbars International GmbH, KaratGold Coin, KaratCoin Bank, KaratPay System and KaratGold Coin Exchange.

LondonCoin

Name: LondonCoin (LDX)

Location: Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Website: londoncoin.io

LondonCoin provides a cryptoecosystem consisting of a core cryptocurrency, a decentralized exchange, and a wallet. LDX will be backed by real physical gold, accumulated and locked up in a ‘reserve only’ foundation in Switzerland. Gold reserves are owned by LDX holders, and LDX holders can exchange the cryptocurrency with actual gold bars.

The webpage now redirects to an unrelated site.

MAST

Name: MAST

Location: Mauritius.

Website: mast.eco

MAST is a collaboration by HYBSE, GMEX, and MINDEX to list the world’s first Multi-Asset Stable Token (MAST). The MAST is a modern digital asset combining multiple tiers of equities and currencies which are backed

by physical allocations of gold.

The ATO (Asset Token Offering) closes at the end of April, 2019. The site has since gone offline.

Orocrypt

Name: Orocrypt (OCG)

Location: Zurich, Switzerland.

Website: orocrypt.com

Orocrypt is a company that digitises assets. It already has a working token, the OCG gold-backed token, each representing 30 g of LBMA compliant bullion gold and stored in Liechtenstein, Switzerland and The Cayman Islands. The OCG token represents ownership of 30 grams of gold, therefore it always has to be 100% backed by bullion gold. You can see the vaulted gold Stock Report in the News section of the website. The OCG Smart Contract was audited by Icorating.com.

OCG was listed on the P2PB2B‌ exchange but it has since been delisted. A Tweet in January 2020 mentions reorganising their corporate structure.

PACT

Name: PACT (PACT)

Location:

Website: pactgold.com

The PACT platform is backed by a physical gold mine, as the firm also purchases physical gold to hold in reserves for every coin held by the public. Each PACT token is valued at .008 of a gram of gold or $2.00 worth of gold. When your cryptocurrency value is greater than 1kilo of gold, you can opt to convert it to physical gold in one of the firm’s vault, and take physical custody.

The website has since gone offline.

Exchanges with PACT

Impact Exchange

Secured Gold Coins

Name: Secured Gold Coins (SGC)

Location: Melbourne, Australia.

Website: securedgoldcoin.com

Secured Gold Coins (SGC) is a hybrid cryptocurrency that is 60% gold-backed, 40% utility, and completely decentralized based on Blockchain technology.

SGC Coins went on sale in 2019, but the site and social media accounts have gone quiet and the sale link isn’t working.

Sudan Gold Coin

Name: Sudan Gold Coin (SGC)

Location: Dubai, U.A.E.

Website: sudangm.com

Sudan Gold Coin is a gold mining business with blockchain technologies that offers a fair distribution of the profit. Each token at the beginning will be tied to the 0.05g of gold per token. More gold is added to each token as the gold is physically mined. The mine is located in a study area of over 8000 Km2 in Northern State of Sudan. The Dubai SG mining Co controls 100% of the Sudanese mining company. ICO ends 30 January, 2019.

The site has since closed with a notification of legal action lodged by Netarc AG, against the promoters of SGC (Sudan Gold Coin and its Initial Coin Offering) due to false representation and public defamation.

TokenOro

Name: TokenOro (ORO)

Location: Bend, Oregon, USA.

Website: tokenoro.com.

When you purchase a TokenOro token, 50% will go to purchase, gold bullion, gold bullion certificates and/or cash that will be placed in a secure, insured gold vault and 50% will go into mining production and company operations.

The sire has since gone offline.

TxGold

Name: TxGold

Location: Texas, USA.

Website: restore.money

TxGold is a gold-backed currency with near zero transaction costs (for both sending and receiving), and settlement times of 2-4 seconds. Backed by redeemable gold coins, which are stored and secured in the state of Texas (and insured by Lloyd’s of London). Users can get started by exchanging fiat or crypto currency for TxGold, or by sending their own physical gold coins.

TxGold was available on the open-source Stellar platform, but it has since been decommissioned and TxGold will no longer mint/offer new tokens. After January 31, 2020, TxGold tokens will no longer be redeemable for physical gold.

XGold

Name: XGold Coin (XGC)

Location: Punta Arenas Building, 13 Floor, Cincuentenari, Coco de Mar 79 East Panama City, Panama.

Website: therealxgold.com.

XGold Coin (XGC) is a gold backed digital crypto-currency option. The price of one XGC Coin at initial pricing is based on a single gram of gold.

The site is now offline.

Crypto graveyard: cancelled / closed / other

Since the beginning of this guide to gold-backed cryptocurrencies, many have already fallen by the wayside.

Arbitrade

Name: Arbitrade

Location: Hamilton,Bermuda.

Website: arbitrade.io

Arbitrade was a supposed cryptocurrency exchange and mining company based in Bermuda. In March 2018 it was announced that Arbitrade Exchange Inc. would acquire Cryptobontix Inc (cryptobontix.com).

In November 2018 they put out a press release announcing that Arbitrade Ltd. had “received title of gold bullion stored at independent security facilities in the amount of 395,000 kgs with a current market value in excess of $10 Billion U.S.”. 395 tonnes of gold would have placed Arbitrade among the countries of the world’s top 15 gold reserves.

They also announced that they had acquired an office block in Hamilton for their head office.

By October 2019 Arbitrade’s website had vanished.

Dignity (DIG) was owned by Arbitrade which was acquired by Cryptobontix. blockchainbullion.io were also associated with the project though the site has since gone offline.

Here is a more detailed writeup about $UNY / $DIG.

AssetBase

Name: GoldBase (ABG)

Location: St Kitts & Nevis

Website: assetbase.io

AssetBase offer five different precious metal crypto currencies (gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and rhodium). Unlike some of the other mixed metal tokens, AssetBase has a separate token for each metal. The GoldBase crypto coin (ABG) is equal to 1g of physical gold and is 100% redeemable for 100% physical gold. All gold (and other metals) is vaulted and insured and audited by a third party. To acquire precious metal tokens you will need Prime Donor Tokens (PDT).

The site is now offline and the domain has expired.

Auric

Name: Auric (AURI)

Location: Zurich, Switzerland.

Website: auric.io

Auric is a store of value and medium of exchange cryptocurrency backed by a physical store of gold at a rate of 0.001oz per Auric. Owners can hold Auric, trade it on exchanges, or transfer it for this equivalent amount of gold via the Auric Market at any time.

The ICO ran in September 2018. Since then the site has gone blank, and here was the last update on the Bitcoin Forum.

“Thanks very much for all the ICO funds…we will try and launch Auric sometime before 2040. Have a great day. No more updates until then.”

AURUM X

Name: AURUM X ()

Location: Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Website: aurumx.io

AURUM X (previously known as Gold Mining) will secure gold through its cryptocurrency mining business. Future plans are based on creating a large mining center, which cryptocurrency-based revenue would continue to increase gold reserves.

Holder of X tokens will then be distributed with V tokens, which is pegged with with price of gold (1 V token = 0.01g physical gold). V tokens are issued only as much as the quantity of gold held. The gold will be continuously secured from the profits of large-scale mining centers, cryptocurrency exchange, gold products and discount shopping malls.

ICO started on August 1st, 2018. The site has since gone offline without any notifications.

BaselBit

Name: BaselBit (BB3)

Location: Zug, Switzerland.

Website: baselbit.ch

BaselBit was a planned crypto currency backed by gold and silver reserves. According to the website:

“Due to unobtainable and unverifiable audits of underlying assets of Basel Bit and its principle guarantor not providing contracted financing forces the organization to cease operations.”

Crypto-Gold Coin

Name: Crypto-Gold Coin (CGC)

Location: ?

Website: cryptogoldcoin.net

Crypto-Gold Coin started out as CryptoGLD (CrGLD). The original website at cryptogld.com is no longer working so I found their new site via the Facebook page. It says they are a cryptocurrency but it doesn’t appear to be on any exchange (and CGC is another token). When I checked it was selling a 1 ounce Crypto-Gold Coin at US$1,300.00, even though the current market price at the time was US$1,321.00. There is no office listed, and no mention of how the gold is stored or how you can sell it once you have bought.

CURRENSEE

Name: CURRENSEE (CUR)

Location: Dubai, U.A.E.

Website: currensee.io

Currensee was a gold-backed crypto currency valued at the current price of 1gm of Gold. The value of the physical gold in the reserve is directly proportionated to track the performance of the coin in the market. The Currensee platform is built on a private blockchain, based on the Ethereum Technology.

Darico

Name: Darico (DEC)

Location: Zug, Switzerland.

Website: darico.io

Darico offered a gold-hedged cryptocurrency investment token backed by gold, bitcoin and ethereum. Each token was comprised of 55% bitcoin, 35% gold, and 10% ether. The gold sits in custodial vaults, and there is an app wallet and a Darico debit card.

Darico is now a dedicated trading platform with no offer of DRC gold-backed token.

Digital Bullion Gold

Name: Digital Bullion Gold (DBG)

Location: ?

Website: digitalbulliongold.com

The website has expired and there is no contact from the developer.

Goldbloc

Name: Goldbloc

Location: London, UK.

Website: goldbloc.com

Goldbloc was a gold-backed digital currency and banking platform project developed by The Real Asset Company (TRAC) and Lionsgold (LSE: LION). Goldbloc has since pivoted to become Tally, which is not a cryptocurrency. This will be a “100% reserve banking platform and physical asset currency used in everyday banking through a smartphone banking app and Mastercard debit card”.

Gold Cryptocurrency

Name: Gold Cryptocurrency (GOLDC)

Location: ?

Website: goldcryptocurrency.org

A proposed gold-based online currency that was saying it had an ICO in August 2017, though I couldn’t find any record of it. There were some updates at github, and the website has since gone offline.

GOLDUSA

Name: GOLDUSA

Location: Vancouver, Canada.

Website: canamexgold.com

Canadian-based mining firm Canamex were offering tokenized gold and silver, with the GOLDUSA token representing 1/200 oz of gold. Reference to the token has since been removed from the website.

Details of the token can be found at: Canamex Gold: GOLDUSA and SILVERUSA Security Tokens Digital Securities Offer Board

GramGold

Name: GramGold (GGT)

Location: United Kingdom

Website: gramgold.net

GramGold was a gold exchange, a gold vault, a gold ATM, and a foundation. The Gramgold Token (GGT) is 10% backed by gold. The GramGold ICO was on in March, 2018 and went offline in April, 2018.

IC3 Cubes

Name: IC3 Cubes (IC3)

Location: Canada.

Website: ic3cubes.com

IC3 Cubes secured by 100% Canadian gold. The site has gone offline with no other information on its fate.

Lightcash

Name: Lightcash (LCSH)

Location: Belize.

Website: lightcash.io

Lightcash Crypto Gold is pegged to actual gold, in a ratio of 1000 LCSH’s to one gram of gold. By purchasing tokens, investors receive an ownership share in the gold mining company. An ICO ran until June 2018, and it has since gone offline. Check for updates at bitcointalk.org.

Magma Coin

Name: Magma Coin (MGM)

Location: Manchester UK.

Website: magmacoin.org

Magma Coin ran an ICO with the whitepaper saying that “the company uses exchange traded funds (ETF) or physical gold (of 999 quality) as its security.” When searching for what content of gold is on each token, the whitepaper said “Each Magma token represents X amount of Gold Miligram of Gold.”

On 26 September, 2018 the North Dakota Securities Commissioner issued a Cease and Desist Order against Magma for promoting unregistered and potentially fraudulent securities in North Dakota in the form of Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs).

Midas Rezerv

Name: Midas Rezerv (MRCoin)

Location: Thailand.

Website: midasrezerv.com

One of the earliest attempts at a gold-backed crypto was by Midas Rezerv. A press release from 2015 says that every Midas Rezerv token is 100% backed by 1 gram of gold.

My Big Coin

Name: My Big Coin (MBC)

Location: Nevada, USA.

Website: mybigcoin.com

My Big Coin was a virtual currency that claimed was backed by gold. In February 2019 the founder was arrested on federal charges for participating in a scheme to defraud people.

ONGOLD

Name: ONGOLD

Location: USA.

Website: ongold.com

From the web archive:

“ONGOLD Tokens serve as the financial backbone of the Open Network. A gold-dollar equivalent stable-value cryptocurrency payment instrument. They are uniquely used for purchases within the ON ecosystem including ONCOIN, ONDOLLAR, ONPROPERTY and ONENERGY Tokens – each a separate tokenized sector of assets.”

OZcoinGold

Name: OZcoinGold (OzGLD)

Location: ?

Website: ozgld.com

OzGLD was a proposed cryptocurrency 100% backed by gold. A paid press release stated that “each 100 OZcoinGold coins is backed by 1/3 gold bullion stored in the Perth Mint and 2/3 gold reserves held by Ozcoin Inc, to be delivered to Perth Mint by March 2022.” There was no mention on the Perth Mint site, and no physical contact details were the website which has since gone offline.

Reales

Name: Reales (RLS)

Location: Tallinn, Estonia.

Website: realescoin.io

Reales coin was a token that combines a basket of precious metal and cryptocurrencies. The breakdown of each token is 10% physical gold, 35% physical silver, 20% Bitcoin, and 20% for ICO’s and alt-coins (total 85%). The remaining 10% was for company’s budget and 5% for operational costs.

An ICO was held in 2018 and didn’t reach their softcap.

Royal Mint Gold

Name: Royal Mint Gold (RMG)

Location: London, England.

Website: royalmint.com

The Royal Mint planned to team up with CME Group (the derivatives marketplace) to offer bullion on the blockchain. Royal Mint Gold (RMG) proposed to offer real gold, stored in The Royal Mint vault, and traded on a digital trading platform provided by CME Group. It would have been be available through third party investment intermediaries such as banks and brokers. The project was abandoned in October, 2018.

Tether Gold

Name: Tether Gold (GLDT)

Location: ?

Website: tethergold.com

A press release was posted about an ICO for Tether Gold in December 2017. It appears to be inspired by Tether (USDT), which is pegged to the US Dollar. In this case 1 GLDT = 1 Oz / 31.1 Grams .9999 AU GOLD. There was a South African contact number. The website looked hastily thrown together and soon disappeared. In 2020 the original Tether released Tether Gold (XAUt).

The Mining Co.

Name: The Mining Co. (TMC)

Location: Nevada, USA.

Website: theminingcompany.club

The Mining Co. is a mining company in Nevada that are raising funds for a gold mine via an ICO. TMC tokens are backed by the gold mine, so there is no set value for the token until gold is mined. The value of the token will increase according to mined gold. The website says it’s “the first cryptocurrency to be asset-based”, so they’re obviously not readers of my blog 🙄

Tiberius Coin

Name: Tiberius Coin (TCX)

Location: Zug, Switzerland.

Website: tiberiuscoin.com

Tiberius Coin is an asset-backed token made up of an alloy of metals, including gold. The metal is held and audited by independent warehouses, and available for delivery upon request. Every token includes:

Technology metals: 25g copper, 5g tin

Electric Vehicle metals: 25g aluminium, 6g nickel, 1g cobalt

Stability metals: 3mg gold, 1.5mg platinum

The Initial Metals Sale (IMS) in October in 2018 was put on hold due to the fact that “credit card processors were going to make investing in Tiberius Coin difficult”. The site has since gone offline with no updates.

USDVault

Name: USDVault (USDV)

Location: Switzerland.

Website: vault.ch

USDVault (USDV) was a proposed stablecoin, pegged 1:1 to the US Dollar. USDV was planned to be fully backed by, and redeemable for, gold held in Swiss vaults directly via 3rd party fiduciaries. The USDVault token was expected to launch in late 2018. The project has since closed down.

Value Units

Name: Value Units (VUS)

Location: Hong Kong.

Website: v-units.com.

Value Units is a decentralized blockchain covered with physical gold that is stored in various Swiss army bunkers.

The website has since gone offline with no explanation.

How to buy gold-backed cryptocurrency

The easiest way to buy a gold-backed cryptocurrency is to check with the official website.

Like most altcoins, gold-backed cryptocurrencies are not universally listed. Unlike Bitcoin (which is listed on every crypto exchange), you may find that your preferred gold-backed token is only available on a few exchanges. There are also some that are only listed on their own in-house exchange. By checking with the official token website you will save time looking around on exchanges.

Bitcoin and Ethereum are the two major cryptocurrencies that are used to buy altcoins on exchanges. For ICO (Initial Coin Offering) purchases Ethereum might be the only payment available if the token is running on Ethereum. You can buy Bitcoin and Ethereum at Binance (the world’s largest crypto exchange), and then send the funds as per the instructions given by the gold token you are buying.

If you’re not ready to commit to any of the gold-backed token projects on offer, another alternative is to buy gold with bitcoin at Vaultoro. This is a gold vaulting service which allows you to buy and sell gold with bitcoin and other altcoins. The gold is 100% your legal property, and is fully insured in Swiss vaults.

Vaultoro is ideal if you prefer to park your crypto gains in gold instead of cashing out into a fiat currency. Read more about Vaultoro.

Cryptocurrencies that aren’t gold-backed

While researching and updating this list I kept finding Cryptocurrencies that sound like they are gold related. The biggest naming misnomer is Bitcoin Gold (BTG), which is a fork of the Bitcoin blockchain and has no gold attached to it. What a wasted opportunity to not have an actual gold-bitcoin. The name has really messed up my gold news alerts as well.

At least Bitcoin Gold aren’t pretending to be linked to the value of gold, just as a Visa or Mastercard Gold Card isn’t pretending to be made of gold. Things start getting murky with Ethereum Gold (ETG). Ethereum Gold is built on the Ethereum blockchain and was launched in October 2017 as an airdrop to crypto forum readers. The website says that it’s a “smart-contracts governed ecosystem that applies blockchain technologies using the value of GOLD.” There is no other mention of how it is connected to the value of gold.

Crypto Bullion (CBX) has been trading since before any gold-backed crypto got started, but it doesn’t have any bullion backing. It was launched to function as a store of wealth and emulate the properties and supply of gold.

GoldCoin (GLD) is “Digital Gold” and not backed by physical gold. It was founded in 2013 and is a decentralised open-source cryptocurrency forked from Litecoin.

GBCGoldCoin (GBC) is a Russian cryptocurrency and is not backed by gold coins.

GoldReserve (XGR) appears to have started out as being backed by gold but “XGR is not backed by gold at the moment“.

Gold Bits Coin (GBC) project is no longer gold-backed.

CryptoGold is a crypto mining platform.

Gold-backed cryptocurrency news

There are more gold-backed cryptocurrencies being developed, so I will add them here as they become known. If you know of any others or are developing one, please contact us.

This list is being updated regularly, and any changes are posted in the weekly gold newsletter. Subscribe to the newsletter for gold and gold-backed cryptocurrency news.

Disclaimer

This is intended as a directory and is not an editorial endorsement. Do your own research before buying. Details of the tokens may have changed since being listed. This is a free listing so any gold-backed cryptocurrency can be listed. There are no sponsored listings.

Some of the coins and exchanges include referral links which may earn Goldscape.net a commission. I will make a note of any tokens that I have bought.