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OCBC, Lion Global Investors and DigiFT launch Southeast Asia first on-chain tokenised physical gold fund

OCBC, Lion Global Investors and DigiFT launch Southeast Asia first on-chain tokenised physical gold fund

  • 20 Apr 2026

The token bridges traditional assets with public blockchain infrastructure, delivering institutional-grade gold exposure on‑chain.

Singapore, 20 April 2026 – OCBC and its asset management arm, Lion Global Investors, together with digital asset exchange DigiFT, have launched the OCBC-LionGlobal Physical Gold Fund Token (“GOLDX token”) – Southeast Asia’s first tokenised physical gold fund available on a public blockchain. GOLDX will be issued on both the Ethereum and Solana blockchains. 

Through the DigiFT platform, institutional investors – including banks, hedge funds and asset managers – as well as corporate accredited investors will be able to subscribe to the GOLDX token using stablecoins or fiat currencies. The GOLDX token will then be delivered directly to investors’ blockchain wallets and can subsequently be redeemed for stablecoin or fiat currencies.

The GOLDX token is issued within a fully regulated environment anchored by three Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)-regulated entities: OCBC, Lion Global Investors and DigiFT. Collectively, these entities will provide investors with strong governance, institutional-grade risk management controls, and transparent, verifiable asset backing. Investors have these assurances while still gaining the efficiency and interoperability benefits that are characteristic of public-blockchain-based real-world assets (RWAs).

Therefore, the GOLDX token gives regulated, on-chain exposure to the performance of the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund (“Underlying Fund”) managed by Lion Global Investors.

Amid persistent geopolitical and economic uncertainties, the Underlying Fund has recorded strong growth with S$669.4 million (US$525.9 million) in assets under management as at 16 April 2026, just four months after its launch.

OCBC originated and led the structuring of the GOLDX token’s issuance, shaping the product architecture and commercial framework. The bank worked with DigiFT to enable the tokenisation and digital distribution of the GOLDX token, while Lion Global Investors provided the investment framework and governance of the Underlying Fund.

Strong demand expected from Web3 ecosystem participants

The GOLDX token is expected to attract strong demand from Web3 ecosystem participants including family offices and high-net-worth individuals who operate within decentralised, blockchain-based environments. These ecosystem participants hold significant capital in stablecoins in Asia, much of it currently sitting idle. According to Allium, a digital-asset data and analytics platform, the tokenised RWA market surpassed US$18.23 billion by January 2026, up almost ten-fold from US$1.89 billion in January 2024.

Demand is further supported by growing interest in Singapore-issued digital assets, as Singapore continues to establish itself as a leading hub for digital-asset regulation and market infrastructure.

The initiative also advances Singapore’s aim to be a hub for innovative and responsible digital asset activities that enhance efficiency and create economic value.

Mr Kenneth Lai, Head of Global Markets, OCBC, said: “As part of our new corporate strategy – The Next Frontier, we are proud to launch Southeast Asia's first tokenised physical gold fund on a public blockchain. This is a milestone in strengthening our Group-wide digital asset proposition.

“We believe digital assets will play an increasingly important role in financial services, and our focus is on bridging traditional finance with the emerging world of decentralised finance. By bringing real-world assets on-chain – like we have done with this token – we aim to enable stablecoin capital to be invested in these assets while maintaining the standards and safeguards expected by investors."

Mr Teo Joo Wah, Chief Executive Officer, Lion Global Investors, said: “The LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund was created for investors who are not just seeking exposure to gold but also the assurance of physical asset backing and robust institutional governance. We are pleased to work with OCBC and DigiFT to provide more avenues for investors to gain exposure to the performance of the Fund.”

Mr Henry Zhang, Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer, DigiFT, said: “Gold remains a long-standing allocation for many investors. Through this launch, we are advancing how eligible investors can access and operationalise physically backed gold exposure through a regulated digital format. This tokenised access pathway supports investors who want institutional-grade exposure delivered in a way that can integrate with modern digital custody, settlement, and portfolio workflows, contributing to a more open and interoperable financial system.”


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