According to CoinDesk, HSBC has introduced a tokenized gold product for everyday investors in Hong Kong, becoming the first bank to create a blockchain-based real-world asset aimed at the retail marketplace. The HSBC Gold Token is minted on the bank's Orion digital assets platform and can be accessed via HSBC Online Banking and HSBC HK Mobile App.
Banks and financial institutions are increasingly tokenizing real-world assets (RWA) on blockchains, including private ledgers and public networks like Ethereum. In November last year, HSBC announced plans for a tokenized gold offering as part of its new digital asset custody platform, developed in partnership with Swiss-based crypto safe-keeping specialist Metaco. HSBC Hong Kong's head of wealth and personal banking, Maggie Ng, stated that the HSBC Gold Token, powered by HSBC Orion, is the first retail product in Hong Kong based on distributed ledger technology, as authorized by the Securities and Futures Commission.