Singapore's DBS Bank announced it will launch tokenized gold for retail investors starting in the second half of 2026. The move allows everyday individuals to buy and sell gold in increments as small as 1 gram, bypassing the high entry barriers typical of physical bullion.
Product Details: On-Chain Tokens, Off-Chain Bullion
The product is called DBS Physical Gold Tokens. It will first be available on DBS digibank, with a potential listing on the bank's digital exchange, DDEx (DBS Digital Exchange), for accredited investors and institutions. The entire tokenization process — issuance, administration, placement, and operation — will be handled in-house by the bank using its own financial infrastructure.
Each token represents 1 gram of physical gold, stored in DBS's dedicated vault in Singapore. Investors can verify the backing and ownership.
RWA Trend Accelerates, DBS Already Active
The product arrives amid a surge in real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. DBS disclosed that over the past three years, its very-wealthy clients have more than doubled their allocation to physical gold in their portfolios, signaling robust demand for safe-haven assets.
DBS has been building its digital asset capabilities for years. In 2025, it issued a tokenized structured product on Ethereum. It later added sgBENJI, a tokenized money-market fund from Franklin Templeton, and RLUSD, a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Ripple.
Exec: Tokenization Breaks Down Walls
James Tan, Head of Investment Products and Advisory at DBS, noted: "Previously, retail customers could buy gold passbook accounts or gold funds, but access to physical gold was largely limited to institutions and accredited investors. Since 2013, we have offered physical gold to wealth clients. Now, with tokenization, we are breaking down that wall and making gold investment accessible, safe, and meaningful for a much wider audience."