Tokenizing precious metals on public blockchains has gained momentum in 2026. Ripple‘s XRP Ledger, known for its speed and cost-effectiveness in cross-border payments, was an early entrant in this trend. In 2024, Meld Gold, a specialist in digital gold products, introduced the first batch of tokenized gold shares on the XRP Ledger. Despite this innovation, the amount of gold involved remains modest, with about 1,000 ounces accounting for a few million dollars in assets.
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AAPLAssetiko expands XRP Ledger tokenization
Following Meld Gold’s initiative, Assetiko, a digital asset tokenization platform with a larger gold reserve, implemented a similar strategy. The company released approximately 1,524 certified ounces of gold, establishing an XRP-based collateral pool valued at $3.08 million. Assetiko’s move signaled an ambition for larger-scale tokenization, raising the prospect of multi-billion dollar on-chain gold reserves if broader institutional adoption occurs within the UK.
Crypto analyst SMQKE examined this dynamic and highlighted the connection between ongoing tokenization efforts and new regulatory developments in the UK. SMQKE stated on X that XRP Ledger has the capabilities to tokenize gold and emphasized that Ripple operates as an FCA-authorized fintech firm in the country.
SMQKE observed that Ripple holds formal FCA authorization in the UK, which enables XRP Ledger to potentially support large-scale gold tokenization projects within the United Kingdom’s financial system.
Mini dictionary: FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), the financial regulatory body in the United Kingdom, oversees the conduct of financial services firms and markets to ensure integrity and protect consumers.
Potential UK gold market transformation
The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority reportedly is considering plans to allow over 70% of the country’s gold reserves to be moved on-chain. The objective is to strengthen London’s position in global gold trading and respond to increased competition from markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong. If the FCA advances this initiative and leverages the XRP Ledger, tokenization efforts could scale from millions to billions of dollars, fundamentally altering gold reserve management in the region.
A decision by the UK to deploy a large portion of its gold reserves on-chain would mark a major institutional endorsement for XRP Ledger and the broader blockchain-based asset tokenization sector. The integration of gold tokenization infrastructure is projected to move significant capital into the digital asset space, making practical factors such as user adoption and operational scalability the next hurdles for progress.
| Project | Gold Tokenized (ounces) | Value | Base Technology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meld Gold | ~1,000 | A few million USD | XRP Ledger |
| Assetiko | 1,524 | $3.08 million | XRP Ledger |
| Potential UK FCA Initiative | Over 70% of UK gold reserves | Billions USD (projected) | XRP Ledger (proposed) |
Ripple advances UK strategy after regulatory approval
Ripple, a San Francisco-based payments technology company, has recently strengthened its regulatory position in the UK. The company secured an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license and received registration as a cryptoasset business, updating its compliance with the latest UK financial services framework. These regulatory clearances have enabled Ripple to expand its payment operations inside the UK market.
With established regulatory backing, Ripple is positioned to support a potential transition toward tokenized assets in the UK. As regulatory and technical questions give way to considerations of demand, market adoption will determine the pace and scale of blockchain-based gold reserves in the United Kingdom.
Ripple’s recent regulatory approvals have paved the way for integrated growth of payment services and asset tokenization initiatives across the UK financial sector.
