Key Takeaways
- • OCBC, Lion Global Investors, and DigiFT jointly launched GOLDX, Southeast Asia's first tokenized physical gold fund on public blockchains (Ethereum and Solana), marking a significant bridge between traditional finance and decentralized finance infrastructure.
- • The underlying LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund has attracted S$669.4 million ($525.9 million) in assets under management in just four months since its December 2025 inception, demonstrating strong institutional demand amid geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
- • Institutional investors—including banks, hedge funds, and asset managers—can subscribe to GOLDX tokens using stablecoins or fiat currencies, with tokens delivered directly to blockchain wallets and redeemable on exit, enabling fractional gold ownership and integration with modern digital custody workflows.
- • The structure operates within a fully regulated environment anchored by three Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)-regulated entities, providing institutional-grade governance, risk management controls, and transparent asset backing while leveraging public blockchain efficiency and interoperability.
- • Kenneth Lai, head of global markets at OCBC, framed the initiative as enabling "stablecoin capital to be invested in these assets while maintaining the standards and safeguards expected by investors."
Summary
On April 21, 2026, OCBC and its asset management arm Lion Global Investors, in partnership with Singapore-regulated digital asset exchange DigiFT, announced the launch of GOLDX—Southeast Asia's first tokenized physical gold fund accessible on public blockchains. The OCBC-LionGlobal Physical Gold Fund Token is issued on both the Ethereum and Solana blockchains, representing a pivotal moment in the tokenization of real-world assets within the region's institutional finance landscape.
The GOLDX token provides direct exposure to the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund, which has demonstrated substantial market reception. As of April 16, 2026, the underlying fund had accumulated S$669.4 million ($525.9 million) in assets under management within four months of its December 2025 launch. This rapid capital accumulation reflects institutional appetite for gold exposure amid persistent geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainty.
The tokenization structure targets institutional and corporate accredited investors—including banks, hedge funds, and asset managers—who can subscribe using stablecoins or fiat currencies through the DigiFT platform. Tokens are delivered directly to blockchain wallets and remain redeemable for stablecoin or fiat upon exit. This architecture enables fractional ownership of physical gold and integrates with modern digital custody and settlement workflows, addressing a structural gap between traditional asset custody and decentralized finance infrastructure.
Critically, the product maintains institutional-grade safeguards despite its blockchain foundation. The entire structure is anchored by three MAS-regulated entities (OCBC, Lion Global Investors, and DigiFT), providing transparent asset backing, governance controls, and risk management standards expected by institutional capital. Kenneth Lai, head of global markets at OCBC, emphasized this dual mandate: "By bringing real-world assets on-chain, we aim to enable stablecoin capital to be invested in these assets while maintaining the standards and safeguards expected by investors." DigiFT founder Henry Zhang characterized tokenized access as enabling "institutional-grade exposure delivered in a way that integrates with modern digital custody, settlement, and portfolio workflows," contributing to a more open and interoperable financial system.
The GOLDX token provides direct exposure to the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund, which has demonstrated substantial market reception. As of April 16, 2026, the underlying fund had accumulated S$669.4 million ($525.9 million) in assets under management within four months of its December 2025 launch. This rapid capital accumulation reflects institutional appetite for gold exposure amid persistent geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainty.
The tokenization structure targets institutional and corporate accredited investors—including banks, hedge funds, and asset managers—who can subscribe using stablecoins or fiat currencies through the DigiFT platform. Tokens are delivered directly to blockchain wallets and remain redeemable for stablecoin or fiat upon exit. This architecture enables fractional ownership of physical gold and integrates with modern digital custody and settlement workflows, addressing a structural gap between traditional asset custody and decentralized finance infrastructure.
Critically, the product maintains institutional-grade safeguards despite its blockchain foundation. The entire structure is anchored by three MAS-regulated entities (OCBC, Lion Global Investors, and DigiFT), providing transparent asset backing, governance controls, and risk management standards expected by institutional capital. Kenneth Lai, head of global markets at OCBC, emphasized this dual mandate: "By bringing real-world assets on-chain, we aim to enable stablecoin capital to be invested in these assets while maintaining the standards and safeguards expected by investors." DigiFT founder Henry Zhang characterized tokenized access as enabling "institutional-grade exposure delivered in a way that integrates with modern digital custody, settlement, and portfolio workflows," contributing to a more open and interoperable financial system.
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