财富观 | 黄金也要上链了，“数字黄金”有前景吗？

Core Viewpoint - The World Gold Council has proposed a revolutionary plan to launch a digital token backed by physical gold in London, aiming to transform the trading, settlement, and collateralization of gold [2][3] Group 1: Digital Gold Initiative - The initiative, named "Gold 247," aims to address issues of integrity, accessibility, and tradability in the gold market, reducing the cost barrier for global investors [3][5] - A key component is the "Gold Bar Integrity" (GBI) program, which will create a blockchain-based, tamper-proof database for compliant gold, allowing buyers to verify the integrity of their investments [3][4] - The initiative seeks to enhance transparency and trust in the gold market, making it easier for participants to engage in trading [4][5] Group 2: Market Context and Timing - The timing of the digital gold proposal is strategic, responding to increased demand for gold as a safe-haven asset amid rising geopolitical risks and high interest rates [5][6] - The market value of gold stored in London vaults is approximately $9 trillion, indicating significant potential for enhanced liquidity and collateral functionality [5][6] Group 3: Challenges of Asset Tokenization - Despite the potential benefits, challenges remain in tokenizing physical assets like gold, including standardization issues and high cross-border transaction costs [7][8] - Concerns about the authenticity of on-chain assets and the risks associated with custody are significant barriers to acceptance [7][8] - The need for a unified standard and enhanced transparency in custody and delivery systems is critical for the success of digital gold [8][9] Group 4: Unique Position of Gold - Unlike other physical assets, gold is globally recognized as a reserve and allocation tool, which could facilitate the establishment of a scalable on-chain trading market [9]