The Rise of Tokenized Gold: A Strategic Opportunity in the RWA Boom

The tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) has emerged as a transformative force in global finance, bridging traditional markets with blockchain innovation. Among the most compelling developments is the rise of tokenized gold, which is redefining liquidity, custody, and compliance for institutional investors. High-performance blockchains like Solana are at the forefront of this shift, enabling seamless integration of physical gold with digital infrastructure. This article examines how initiatives such as Marketnode and Lion Global's Singapore-backed gold fund, BioSig/Streamex's $1.1 billion tokenization project, and OSL's Solana collaboration are unlocking gold's potential as a digital-physical hybrid asset in 2026 and beyond.

Institutional-Grade Access: The Singapore Model

Singapore has positioned itself as a global hub for tokenized gold, with the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund serving as a flagship example. Launched on November 25, 2025, the fund offers investors exposure to investment-grade gold bars stored at Le Freeport Singapore, a high-security vault with 24/7 surveillance according to the fund's website. Each unit is backed one-to-one by LBMA Good Delivery gold, fully insured against loss, theft, and damage. The fund's structure combines traditional custodial safeguards-managed by Standard Chartered Bank-with blockchain-based tokenization, enabling real-time tracking of the LBMA Gold Price AM.

Marketnode, a Singapore-based blockchain infrastructure provider, plays a pivotal role in this ecosystem. Its Fundnode platform streamlines fund settlement processes using distributed ledger technology (DLT), reducing manual workflows and accelerating settlement times. While the LionGlobal fund's tokenization is not explicitly attributed to Marketnode, the company's broader expertise in tokenization aligns with the fund's goals of democratizing access to gold. For instance, Marketnode's CEO has emphasized Asia's demographic shift toward digital-native wealth management, a trend reflected in the fund's low minimum investment threshold of S$1.

Scaling Liquidity: BioSig/Streamex's $1.1 Billion Initiative

The collaboration between BioSig and Streamex represents a bold leap in tokenized gold's scalability. The merged entity has secured up to $1.1 billion in financing, including $100 million in senior secured convertible debentures and a $1 billion equity line of credit according to Coindesk reporting. This funding aims to establish the company as one of the largest public holders of gold bullion while advancing its gold-backed tokenization platform. By leveraging Solana's high transaction throughput and low costs, the initiative targets the $142 trillion global commodities market, starting with gold.

Strategic advisors like Frank Giustra and Sean Roosen highlight gold's role as a hedge against geopolitical and economic risks, positioning tokenized gold as a "transformative development" in mining finance. Solana's technical advantages-processing thousands of transactions per second at minimal cost-make it ideal for institutional-grade tokenization, where speed and efficiency are critical. This initiative underscores how blockchain can democratize access to commodities while maintaining institutional-grade security and compliance.

Compliance and Trust: OSL's Solana Collaboration

Regulatory alignment remains a cornerstone of tokenized gold's adoption. OSL Group, a leader in RWA tokenization, has partnered with the Solana Foundation to drive compliant tokenization efforts. This collaboration emphasizes Singapore's Project Guardian framework, which has enabled institutional pilots for tokenized bonds and funds while enforcing AML/KYC controls. In the U.S., compliance with the SEC's Howey Test is critical, as tokenized RWAs offering profit from others' efforts are typically classified as securities.

Hybrid models-combining off-chain legal certainty with on-chain automation-have become the standard in 2025. For example, the LionGlobal fund's allocated physical gold is traceable via unique serial numbers, ensuring legal enforceability while leveraging blockchain for programmable compliance. OSL's work with Solana reflects a broader trend: institutional players are prioritizing platforms that balance innovation with regulatory rigor, ensuring tokenized assets meet global compliance standards.

Strategic Implications for 2026 and Beyond

The convergence of these initiatives signals a paradigm shift in gold's role as a hybrid asset. Tokenization on Solana and similar blockchains is not merely digitizing gold but redefining its utility. For institutional investors, this means:
1. Enhanced Liquidity: Tokenized gold can be traded 24/7 on DeFi platforms, bypassing traditional market hours and intermediaries.
2. Robust Custody: Physical gold remains securely vaulted in trusted locations like Singapore, with blockchain ensuring transparent ownership.
3. Regulatory Resilience: Hybrid models and partnerships with entities like OSL ensure compliance with evolving frameworks, reducing legal risks.

As Singapore solidifies its status as a gold hub, the LionGlobal fund and similar projects are setting a precedent for global adoption. By 2026, the tokenized gold market-now valued at $4.1 billion-is poised to expand exponentially, driven by institutional demand for secure, liquid, and compliant assets.

Conclusion

Tokenized gold represents a strategic opportunity at the intersection of tradition and innovation. Marketnode and Lion Global's Singapore-backed fund, BioSig/Streamex's $1.1 billion initiative, and OSL's Solana collaboration collectively demonstrate how blockchain can unlock gold's latent potential. For investors, this means a new era of accessibility, efficiency, and trust-where physical gold's intrinsic value is amplified by digital infrastructure. As regulatory frameworks mature and adoption accelerates, tokenized gold is set to become a cornerstone of institutional portfolios in 2026 and beyond.