South Africans can now invest in gold starting with just R5 as tokenized finance gains traction across the continent.
In a bold move to democratize access to gold investment, South African tokenized financial asset exchange, Mesh.Trade, has teamed up with gold neobank TroyGold to launch Bullion Krugerrand Tokens—a groundbreaking offering that enables users to buy fractional shares of physical gold coins starting from just 5 Rand (~$0.27).
These blockchain-powered tokens represent actual Krugerrand gold coins securely stored in Brink’s vaults in Johannesburg, one of the most secure storage facilities in the world. The tokenized gold can be bought and sold on Mesh.trade, with each transaction generating a Gold Ownership Certificate that details the exact amount of gold owned, down to seven decimal places.
“All TroyGold customers’ gold holdings are fully allocated,” Mesh and TroyGold said in a joint statement. “Even if you purchase a fraction of a 1oz coin, you are a co-owner of a real Krugerrand coin securely vaulted at Brink’s.”
Tokenized Gold With Full-Ownership Rights and Vault Protection
Each Bullion Krugerrand Token is backed by a fully allocated share of a physical 1oz Krugerrand coin, offering investors legal ownership and assurance. Once an investor accumulates the full ounce (31.1 grams), they can choose to either:
- Continue storing their gold in Brink’s vault
- Or redeem it for physical delivery coordinated by TroyGold
Redemption requests are submitted via Mesh.trade, and upon confirmation, TroyGold arranges secure home delivery of the gold coin. All holdings are insured against loss or theft by Lloyds of London, a leading global insurance provider.
Moreover, monthly reserve attestations audited by independent firms confirm the number of Krugerrand coins held in vaults shared by TroyGold and RMB for Mesh users.
Mesh.Trade: Pioneering Tokenized Financial Assets in Africa
Mesh.Trade became the first fully licensed tokenized financial assets platform in Africa after receiving Category 1 and 2 Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) licenses from South Africa’s FSCA in 2024.
This regulatory milestone positions Mesh.Trade at the forefront of Africa’s rapidly evolving tokenization economy, a sector expected to grow significantly in the next decade.
In 2024, Mesh also facilitated South Africa’s first capital raise via tokenization for reverse mortgage provider Water Financial, issuing preference shares that pay a monthly dividend equal to 87% of the prime lending rate.
Tokenization of Real-World Assets Is on the Rise in Africa
Gold is just one of the real-world assets (RWAs) seeing tokenization in Africa. According to blockchain trend trackers and local reports, 2024 witnessed a surge in RWA tokenization efforts across real estate, equities, and precious metals in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Mesh and TroyGold’s collaboration represents a tangible use case of how blockchain can open investment doors to traditionally inaccessible markets. With tokenized gold now available for as low as $0.27, even retail investors and young savers can own real gold—fractionally.
Financial Advisors Urged to Embrace Tokenized Assets
Connie Bloem, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Mesh.Trade, emphasized the importance of integrating tokenized assets into the financial services sector.
“To meet the growing demand, financial advisors must add the crypto asset category to their licenses to stay relevant and provide a full range of offerings to their clients,” she said.
With this new offering, South Africa is fast cementing its role as a regional leader in asset tokenization and financial innovation, while giving everyday citizens access to historically elite investments like gold—one token at a time.
Key Highlights:
- Token Price: Starting from just R5 (~$0.27)
- Backed by: Real, fully allocated 1oz Krugerrand coins
- Stored at: Brink’s vaults in Johannesburg
- Fully insured by Lloyds of London
- Redeemable for physical gold upon reaching 1oz
- Regulated by FSCA (Category 1 & 2 CASP licenses)
- Certified ownership through downloadable certificates
- Monthly reserve audits ensure transparency and trust
