Crypto Founder Says Tokenized Gold Is Coming to the XRP Ledger — and It’s Going to Be Epic

As interest in tokenizing real-world assets resurges, the XRP community is debating whether gold and silver could soon be brought onto the XRP Ledger.

In a tweet, X user Tyson Weller asked whether gold and silver would ever be tokenized on the XRP Ledger. Phil Kwok, co-founder of EasyA, gave a clear and confident response.

“Tokenized Gold Is Coming to the XRPL”

Meanwhile, Vet, an XRPL validator, pointed out that the technology is already well-suited for tokenized gold and silver. Accordingly, he raised questions about why adoption hasn’t happened at scale yet.

Vet highlighted several advantages of using the XRP Ledger for tokenized metals. These include 24/7 access, fast transfers, and integration with DeFi tools such as automated market makers (AMMs).

He also noted that future features, such as lending and escrow, could make tokenized gold on the XRPL even more attractive.

Market Demand Already Exists

Meanwhile, skeptics questioned whether there is enough demand for tokenized gold and silver. In response, Vet pointed to existing examples in the market. Firms like Paxos and Tether already manage billions of dollars’ worth of tokenized gold and silver, showing that investor interest is real and well established.

From this perspective, the challenge may not be demand, but rather execution and incentives on the XRPL itself.

Incentives May Be the Missing Piece

Adding to the discussion, Anodos Finance co-founder and CEO Pano Mekras suggested that incentives are a major hurdle. He argued that large players may be hesitant to launch tokenized gold on the XRPL unless Ripple actively brings them in.

Mekras noted that attracting projects with high activity and volume requires strong economic incentives. Still, he acknowledged that having products like Paxos Gold or Tether Gold on the XRP Ledger would be a major win for the ecosystem.

What This Could Mean for XRP

Ultimately, tokenized gold on the XRP Ledger could significantly expand the XRPL’s role in real-world asset tokenization. Beyond payments, XRP and the XRPL could become hubs for trading, settling, and using tokenized commodities within DeFi.

Meanwhile, in June 2024, Meld Gold partnered with Ripple to bring tokenized gold and silver to the XRP Ledger (XRPL). In Q3 2024, Meld Gold launched gold and silver tokens on the XRPL, with each token backed by one gram of physical metal held by trusted providers.

Meld Gold aims to grow the XRPL DeFi ecosystem and enable new financial products built around tokenized precious metals.