A substantial segment of the world economy still desires to trade in currency backed by gold.
Digital Gold
JULY 2019
TxGold
P.23
Backed by Gold - Based in Texas
crypto & gold
How to Make a Fortune in the Gold-Backed Crypto Revolution Plus:
Anthemgold Q&A July Survey Question: “If global fiat currencies crashed, would you rather be holding Bitcoin or Gold?”
2 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
THE CHALLENGE:
THE NEED:
Operating in cryptocurrencies remains cumbersome, complex and not comprehendible to 99,9% of the people.
There is a strong need for a solution that would make crypto payments in the “offline” world simple, secure, reliable and cheap.
The cost of transacting in and owning crypto remains substantially higher than for fiat currencies, especially so for small amounts.
Simply copy-pasting existing ting fiat currency solutions is not working, king, because ies and traditional currencies cryptocurrencies have too many differences.
Current wallets, both online and physical, are vulnerable to hacking and loss of funds. Available physical wallets are expensive for most of potential small ticket crypto users.
Such recent ce copy-paste attempts were crypto “cards” and a POS terminals, smartphones with NFC module, crypto “bank notes”. od
All of the above make a real barrier for tens of millions of people around the globe in joining the crypto world.
THE SOLUTION: BHANDER Device and BHANDER Network are the solution that would revolutionize the use of crypto, and thus bring it beyond the small circle of enthusiasts, make using cryptocurrencies easy and affordable in daily life. The Network includes crypto exchanges, fiat financial institutions and local distribution partners.
WHY BHANDER WILL CHANGE THE WAY PAYMENTS ARE DONE: 1
Supports any crypto transaction between devices without third-party systems other than the blockchain: both BHANDER to BHANDER and BHANDER to ANY SCREEN (computer, smartphone, ATM, POS terminal) thanks to optical communication
2
Operates with multiple cryptocurrencies
3
Supports crypto to fiat, fiat to crypto transactions
4
Safe: substantially better protected technologically as compared to any existing solution - needs no physical connection to any device; PIN code and/or fingerprint scanner; private key kept in protected area of device’s memory; own mobile internet access to the blockchain, there is no operating system to hack - it is a microcontroller.
5
Very simple to use
6
Requires neither specific infrastructure nor wide spread devices network – critical at the initial stage
7
Affordable (costs below $10)
8
Funds recoverable in case the device is lost (with a private key saved (written down) at the first use of the device).
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 3
MISSION: Provide infrastructure for crypto transactions Facilitate crypto transactions that are as simple, fast and safe as with fiat currency Integrate crypto transactions into daily life – both private and business. For everyone.
VISION: BHANDER: the largest and the most effective system for crypto payments – built around safe, convenient, simple and affordable device.
STATUS: We have already built the working device, which operates in testing environment, with cellular connection to real blockchains, able to transact device 2 device and device 2 screen.
THE TEAM Core team of BHANDER - experienced professionals of INTECRACY Group. Since late 90’s INTECRACY provides services and develops innovative products in the segments of Cyber Security, IT-platforms, IoT, SW & HW, business solutions, system integration, software development and testing, IT-Consulting. The team is experienced in traditional and crypto finance.
BHANDER http://bhander.com Rostyslav Futalo CEO, BHANDER
Board Member, Intecracy Group +4369911224744 rfutalo@bhander.com Vienna, Austria
4 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
POG
Digital Gold Publisher & Editor Carl Mullan editor@digitalgoldmag.com Associate Editor Jim Davidson JimD@digitalgoldmag.com Advertising Rey Evans Rey@digitalgoldmag.com Staff admin@digitalgoldmag.com
This magazine is being provided for informational purposes and should not be considered investment advice or a recommendation to purchase tokens.
A DCIA Publication Digital Currency Intelligence Authority DCIA.aragonid.eth
Digital Gold is published twelve times a year. Select issues will be available in print throughout the year. Paid subscriptions are through the website. https://digitalgoldmag.com Digital “If global fiat currencies crashed, Gold welcomes letters to the editor, would you rather be holding Bitcoin or Gold?” editorial ideas and submissions. Send to: admin@digitalgoldmag.com Digital Visit our website here to respond Gold is not responsible for claims made by advertisers. Buyer beware. Reproduction in whole or in part Void where prohibited by law: without written permission is strictly Digital Gold Magazine would like to remind all readers that the products prohibited. discussed in this magazine are not suitable for all jurisdictions. Many ©Copyright 2019
July Survey Question:
countries, states, and governments prohibit or restrict the sale of financial tools such as cryptocurrency. Digital Gold Magazine is not advice for anyone living in a jurisdiction that prohibits the purchase or use of cryptocurrency. If you are thinking of using any of these blockchain products, it is vital to conduct extensive due diligence, consult a tax authority in your area, follow all local financial regulations, and avoid taking risks.
Digital Gold Magazine.
ISSN 2474-4700
In memory of the “Beach Bot” N. Carl Barefoot Jr.
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 5
Table of Contents
8
Iran Unveils Gold-Backed Cryptocurrency
9
How Stable Is Your Stablecoin?
13 AnthemGold 18 Q&A with Mr. Logan Ryan Golema, CTO of Anthemgold 19 AnthemGold Launches its Gold-Backed Asset Token AGLD 20 Digix & Tangem: Offline Digix Smart Card 22 LD.2 - Asset-Backed Cryptocurrency 27 Making a Fortune in the Gold-Backed Crypto Revolution 31 TxGold is Backed by Gold & Based in Texas 34 Novem Gold 37 Investing In Crypto Or Gold Is A Matter Of Trust 39 Ekon Gold 42 Gold Good, Bitcoin Better 44 Demand Spikes For Gold-Backed Token
6 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
is ine TS z a ag KE ld M EE TIC nce. o G FR re tal Digi away 2 t Confe ris ng givi e Futu k Here ir of a c h -Cli win a p to t o er t ickets t n E t
https://www.futurist19.com/ Untraceable’s Futurist Conference is the largest and most high profile blockchain event in Canada. It brings together over 2300 attendees from around the globe to discuss the future of technology including blockchain, artificial intelligence, and other emerging tech that will disrupt our future. It is held in an entertainment complex equipped with a million dollar sound and lighting stage, 2 levels of exhibitor booths, and an attached Cabana Pool Bar designed for fostering conversations and deal-making. It is the most immersive, experiential, and highly engaging technology event you will ever attend. For more information or to purchase tickets, just click this space. Monday August 12 7:00pm - 12:00pm - Opening Night Party Tuesday August 13 9:00am - 5:00pm - Conference Day 1 5:00pm - 9:00pm - Rebel Networking Event ednesday August 14 W 9:00am - 6:00pm - Conference Day 2 6:00pm - 11:00pm - Cabana Closing
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 7
Review: The First Six Months OF 2019 January 1st Digital Gold Exchange Opens in Beta Gold Trade Platform- https://www.dgex.biz opened in beta service for 6 months from January 1 through June 30 for the purpose of improving site service and security. The Gold Exchange has a trading limit of 200g per day. The Midas Touch Gold (TMTG) gold-pagged token was listed on NEXEX (https://nexex.io) Friday, December 7, 2018. TMTG was the first Asia-based cryptocurrency to be listed on a Swiss exchange. January 18 Novem Introduces the World’s Safest Gold Token Novem Gold is revolutionising the gold industry with the world’s safest and most transparent gold-backed stablecoin, the Novem 999.9 (NNN) gold token, which is 100% backed by LBMA-certified gold. See article page 34. January 30th Iran Unveils Gold-Backed Cryptocurrency A domestic gold-backed digital currency created on blockchain platform was unveiled by Kuknos Company (Iran) in a ceremony attended by CEOs of banks and judiciary officials. The gold-backed cryptocurrency is the outcome of collaboration between Kuknos Company and these four banks: Bank Mellat, Bank Melli Iran, Bank Pasargad, and Parsian Bank. See article page 8. February 24th TxGold is Now Officially Available Introducing a viable alternative to fiat money. After 1.5+ years of research, development, and preparation, we are pleased to announce TxGold is now available on the Stellar platform. Backed by, and redeemable for, physical gold - which is stored and secured in the state of Texas (and insured by Lloyd’s of London), TxGold is a viable alternative to fiat money – and a great complement to existing crypto/virtual currencies. We invite you to learn more by visiting our website (https://restore.money) and reviewing the FAQs. TxGold is available worldwide – including 43 of the 50 U.S. states. Users can register today - and fund their account with physical gold. See article page 31. April 10th AnthemGold Announces Launch of Its Gold-Backed Asset Token AGLD Texas-based blockchain company AnthemGold, Inc. launched its gold-backed asset token “AGLD” April 10th, 2019. AnthemGold is a cost-effective and secure way to buy, own, and utilize physical gold electronically. Backed by one gram of gold, each AGLD token represents direct ownership of physical gold bullion held in the highlysecure Anthem Bunker storage facility. See article page 19. May 13th GoldGram Unveils GGC GoldGramCoin® -- A New Asset-Backed Gold Token Singapore-based GoldGram Pte. Ltd. unveiled a new asset-backed token, GGC GoldGramCoin®, a digital currency inextricably backed 100% by physical 99.99% fine gold. GGC can be redeemed at any time. One GoldGramCoin® or GGC is backed by 1 gram of 99.99% Fine Gold. See article page 25. May 13th Novem Gold Gave Away 1 kilo of Gold To Users at Consensus 2019 Novem Gold gave away one kilo of free gold to the first 1,000 booth visitors that answered questions about the project during Consensus 2019 in New York City May 13-15, 2019. Read more about Novem Gold on page 34.
8 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
Iran Unveils Gold-Backed Cryptocurrency Financial Tribune Jan. 30, 2019 - A domestic goldbacked digital currency created on blockchain platform was unveiled by Kuknos Company (Iran) in a ceremony attended by CEOs of banks and judiciary officials. According to IBENA, the cryptocurrency is the outcome of collaboration between Kuknos Company and four banks, namely, Bank Mellat, Bank Melli Iran, Bank Pasargad, and Parsian Bank, which host the services. The over-the-counter exchange Iran Fara Bourse is also set to join in hosting the new currency. Valiollah Fatemi, director of Kuknos said the currency dubbed PayMon(covenant in Persian), will be used to issue the initial token based on gold and the company seeks to tokenize assets and excess properties of banks. “People will soon be provided with a facility to trade units of banks’ surplus assets backed by gold, using applications installed on their smart phone,” he told
state TV. “The token can function like a wallet and channel the [banks] excess assets into the economic cycle. We seek to extend the technology for accelerating the pace of bank transactions,” he said. “Economists believe that liquidating excess bank properties gives rise to inflation and insist this approach can lead to higher value-added if the money is spent on boosting the production sector,” he said. He pointed to the threats that many claim the blockchain technology could pose to banks, saying that “It is on us to change threats into opportunity for our national sovereignty and economic prosperity.” Open and Transparent According to Mohammad Samadi, another official with Kuknos , the network operates in a transparent manner where details about the transactions can be traced easily, saying that the company is set to offer 1 billon units of Peyman crypto currency hosted by the four banks and the TOSAN Group—a banking software development company. The currency is planned to be offered on Iran Fara Bourse (an over the counter market for securities) in the near future. Unveiling of the cryptocurrency came soon after the Central Bank of Iran released a draft of its cryptocurrency policy late Monday, calling on experts and stakeholders in the area of virtual currencies to send their views on the policy. The CBI notes that the spread of cryptocurrencies
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
will have potential ramifications for monetary and foreign exchange polices and by creating new venues could [also] present threats to the general public and organizations that use them,” the CBI announcement said.
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 9
How Stable Is Your Stablecoin?
From the CBI view, tokens could be backed either by gold or other precious metals, the national currency, foreign currencies and other visible or invisible assets. Hamid Shahriari, judiciary deputy for Statistics and Information Technology said at Wednesday’s event that “blockchain tsunami” is a threat to the country’s institutions like banks and the National Organization for Civil Registration and timely measures should be taken to deal with that.” He added that opportunities of blockchain technology should also be taken into close consideration. The CBI says it is the only entity that can issue a national cryptocurrency – plans for which are already underway. According to draft rules, the planned national cryptocurrency can be traded only via certified banks inside the country and be used as a payment tool. The national cryptocurrency cannot be mined. Financial Tribune the first Iranian English Economic Daily, January 30, 2019 https://financialtribune.com/node/96476
Aug. 13-14
Toronto, CA
From Novem Gold At Novem Gold, our 999.9 token is (in legal terms) classified as a security. However, in non-legal terms, the 999.9 token represents the so-called “stablecoin.” There is no denying that stablecoins provide value in the crypto world where price stability is ever elusive. The problem, however, is that even the stablecoins themselves have not been spared from volatility. Not only do stablecoins deviate from their claim of being pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, but they also suffer from controversy and lack of transparency. The recent past events have highlighted the opaque nature by which most stablecoins operate, leading investors to wonder if stablecoins can offer any viable solution.
What secures your stablecoin?
If you are looking to find a stablecoin that offers a long lasting solution to price swings, the right place to start is to check and see whether the stablecoin is secure. For stablecoins, security and stability are pretty much the same things. Both these aspects depend on what type of asset that the stablecoin is pegged on.
10 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
So far, the three main categories of stablecoins include commodity-backed stablecoins, fiat-backed stablecoins, and cryptocurrency-backed stablecoins. Let’s compare the security of a fiat-pegged stablecoin against that of a commodity pegged coin.
Comparing fiat-backed vs. commodity-backed stablecoins
Fiat-backed stable coins like Tether and TrueUSD are designed to have a third party managing the storage of the fiat money that the stablecoin represents as well as the supply of the tokens. The caveat here is that users have no choice but to trust the third party company. Although fiat-backed stablecoins offer a simple and straightforward gateway into the world of cryptocurrency investing, their main disadvantage (as seen with tokens such as Tether) is transparency. Commodity-backed stablecoins, on the other hand, are a bit complex in their operating mechanism. Overall, they are pegged on the trusted value of precious metals and minerals like gold and silver.
Gold has been a secure investment throughout history
In particular, gold has (over time) proven its value as a commodity worth investing in considering a study that shows its price increase by more than 300 percent in the last 15 years. According to Investopedia, the return on gold’s value over time beats even that of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and that of the Fidelity Investment Grade Bond Fund, combined. This evidence shows you how investing in a goldbacked stablecoin can be a worthwhile investment over time.
What is your access to the commodity?
But even if you choose to invest in a gold-backed stablecoin, you might still need answers to important question such as :
• What happens if the company issuing the token goes out of business? • Is the gold token fully redeemable? • Is the gold 100% LBMA-certified? • Can I trust the safety claims of the gold-backed token? • Are there actual gold assets that actually exist to give your gold-backed tokens fungible value? At Novem Gold, we have created an immutable, secure and distributed ledger of ownership which goes beyond granting you access to the gold you own but also guarantees security and accountability from every involved party on the network. We’ve made the process of buying and storing gold open and honest thanks to our NVM utility token which you can use to buy our gold-backed NNN token. The NNN token is fully redeemable with tangible gold and 100 NNN tokens will entitle you to 1 gram of gold. While Novem Gold holds the gold in trust for the buyer, an accessible immutable ledger still guarantees that the gold will always belong to the buyer even if the company goes out of business. Plus, our gold is stored in Liechtenstein which is one of the safest places on the planet for storing gold. Liechtenstein’s regulatory policies are designed to prevent seizure of gold even in the unlikely event of a war. Article Source: https://medium.com/@NovemGold/how-stable-isyour-stablecoin-b7ae21f8950c To learn more about Novem Gold, visit: https://novemgold.com/
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 11
12 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 13
AnthemGold
AnthemGold Financial Services Austin, TX http://anthemgold.com/
New customers should sign up through the EDGE mobile wallet. What is AnthemGold? Anthemgold.com offers a gold-backed blockchain asset token. According to their website: AnthemGold (AGLD) is a Micro-Weighted Gold Bullion Backed CryptoCurrency verified by HERC Supply Chain and Storage Utility Library System. The AGLD token is an innovative gold-backed cryptocurrency that easily and securly allows people to acquire, store and spend gold. Each ANTHEM (AGLD) is backed by one gram of physical gold, securely vaulted with a nonbank operator and fully insured. AGLD is the 1st gold stablecoin available to U.S. citizens and residents of select states. Anthem’s platform delivers a robust, cost-effective, convenient and secure way to buy, own and utilize physical gold electronically as a peer-to-peer store of value. Its blockchain-powered AGLD crypto token presents one of the lowest cost and most flexible forms of direct gold ownership. Each AGLD token represents direct ownership of physical gold bullion held in the form of fully-allocated, segregated London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Good Delivery bars within the highly-secure and insured Anthem Bunker storage facility. The gold kilo bars are all verified by X-ray spectrometer and bar inventory log, complete with X-ray and photo images. This is all saved in an indisputable format using Hercules supply chain protocol, before being added to the AnthemGold bar inventory. The price of an AGLD token corresponds to the upto-the-second Spot Price of 24kt .9999 AU Gold Bullion Market API. The token value moves with the price of gold and is a true measured store of value.
A Short History From Anthem’s Founder AnthemBunker was founded in February 2018 by CEO Anthem Blanchard. Anthem brings his extensive knowledge of the gold and silver industry from both his experience as Director of Strategic Development and Marketing with European-based company GoldMoney, as well as from being raised by a goldbug and precious metals pioneer James U. Blanchard III, who helped restore Americans’ right to own gold and founded the rare coin and bullion company Blanchard & Company. James U. Blanchard III, spearheaded the movement for Americans to legally own gold once again, a right we lost in 1933 and thankfully regained in 1975, in large part due to my father’s incessant lobbying for legalization. My parents created James U. Blanchard & Company in 1975, a precious metals and rare coin company that at one time was the world’s largest. Following in their footsteps, even my own three names reflect my aspirations and my heartfelt mission: Anthem (the freedom-seeking hero of Ayn Rand’s novella), Hayek (the Nobel prize-winning economist and philosopher Friedrich Hayek) and Blanchard (continuing the family tradition). During Anthem’s tenure with GoldMoney, he helped develop and implement their current business model and oversaw marketing and product development efforts, which resulted in an increase of total value held by the company from $1 million in 2002 to $368 million by 2008. Today, the company holds over $2 billion in client assets. He also assisted thousands of clients by answering their questions regarding buying gold and silver. From 2010 to 2014, Anthem served as an independent director and member of the audit committee, compensation committee and nominating committee at Pernix Therapeutics Holdings Inc. (ticker symbol: PTX, traded on NASDAQ), a Russell 2000 pharmaceutical company based in The Woodlands, Texas. Anthem holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) from Goizueta Business School at Emory University with concentrations in Professional Accounting (CPA) and Finance.
14 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
In an interview with published by AnthemVault news, Anthem Hayek Blanchard offered his vision.
But looking at the bigger picture, our goal is to bring gold and cryptocurrency together to create the world’s most stable form of money… to become a Gold Standard, if you will, in verifying supply chain management when it comes to the transfer and storage of physical, fungible items of value such as precious metals.
AnthemGold Advantages Backed By Real Gold The AnthemGold cryptocurrency is backed by real actual gold that is insured, compliant with all the regulations, and securely stored in a vault. The gold is then recorded on the immutable and decentralized blockchain technology to ensure that the gold’s history and details can be tracked. Furthermore, owners of the AnthemGold can trade it for Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Physically Delivered Gold Bars. Bar Audits and Tests AnthemGold only purchases metal bars from worldrenowned manufacturers who are on the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) list. Every day, the world-class vaulting facility that we use in Salt Lake City, Utah performs a bar count and audit of all bars currently held. It sends the bar audit to AnthemGold, and we provide these documents to our clients. Every time a bar enters or leaves our vault, a new audit is performed of all the bars then stored in the vault. In addition, each bar added to our vault is sonically tested for purity and weight using XRF technology to ensure the highest quality and integrity of all metal purchased by AnthemGold clients. Transparent Compared to other stablecoins, AnthemGold implements additional transparency measures such as frequent audits of the AGLD token code by Hosho Smart ContractSecurity. Apart from the audits, all the transactions using the tokens can be monitored on Etherscan.
Trust through Transparency Trust through Transparency is the term that we at AnthemGold use to describe how open we are to our clients. We do not want any unanswered questions about our product to be on anyone’s mind. To achieve this goal, we provide information on bar audits and vault insurance to our clients. Also, through the use of the Hercules blockchain supply chain protocol, AnthemGold can provide immutable data to our customers regarding each bar of gold in the AnthemBunker vault, including self-verification of gold content of every bar. And, through the use of our private AnthemBunker facilities and infrastructure, we provide our customers with an unparalleled level of virtual access to their metals. Secure Physical Storage Of The Gold All the gold backing the AnthemGold cryptocurrency is stored in the UL Class 3 Vault that features motion sensors, intrusion sirens and 24/7 live cameras. The vault is located in a gated compound with 24/7 security guard and 5 layers of entry access control including biometric identifiers such as fingerprints to prevent any unauthorized access. Insurance Gold and silver are historically one of the most secure ways to store wealth and purchasing power. Their value and portability make them perfect containers to retain value, but those factors can also create a difficult situation if the metal ever gets lost or stolen. Because of this, it is extremely important to insure your investment. However, many home insurance policies will not cover precious metal bullion and those that do are often prohibitively expensive. Our bullion is insured for loss by theft or natural disaster by Lloyd’s of London. Details of the coverage provided under the policy can be obtained upon request. Company Audits It is not enough that AnthemGold purchases only high quality bars, storing those bars securely in a world class vaulting facility, and protecting that metal with a commercial grade insurance policy. We know that our clients need to know that they can trust us as a company in our capacity as the custodian of their metal. The best way to prove ourselves and earn our clients trust is by having a reputable third party
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
company audit our financials.
FAQ How do I Buy Gold Bullion? Gold Bullion will be available from AnthemGold. com from whom it can be shipped to your home for physical storing, or can be shipped to AnthemBunker. AnthemBunker is a secure storage facility hosted at an extremely secure location in Montgomery, Texas and serves as the home of the first HERC Verification Station. Who is AnthemBunker? AnthemBunker is a subsidiary of Anthem Vault, Inc. and owns and operates a Class 3 vaulting operation currently located in Montgomery, Texas. The vault will serve as the secure location for the gold held for customers of Anthem Vault, and AnthemBunker permits us to provide the level of transparency and verification that AnthemGold is dedicated to providing to its customers because it has complete control and possession of the vault and its infrastructure. There is even a live streaming video feed from their vault, in real time. Is AnthemBunker a bank? No. The distinction is that deposits held in a bank checking or savings account are used by the bank to create new loans. Anthem Vault is a precious metal dealer, and AnthemBunker has the expertise and the facilities to provide world-class storage and security for precious metals,, Neither AnthemGold nor AnthemBunker have any legal right to loan out or use client metal as collateral with its own creditors and neither does the independent, third-party nonbank vaulting facility it uses to store the metal bars. If for any reason we stopped doing business, 100% of your assets in the form of physical bars, bank check, or both if you choose, can be quickly and easily distributed back to you. Anthem Gold is not just a single company, the Anthem name includes several related businesses and a long history of family success. The Anthem brand of companies has a significant list of experienced individuals working for the group. Here are the related group of Anthem companies. AnthemVault (https://www.anthemvault.com/)
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 15
Buy, store, sell and gift metals. Gold and Silver ownership made easy, secure and affordable Amagi Metals (https://www.amagimetals.com/) Amagi Metals is a global bullion dealer that serves the world with quality precious metals. AnthemVault Pro (http://www.anthemvaultprofessional.com/) Anthem Vault Professional allows investment advisor portfolios to shine with physical Gold & Silver bullion ownership Anthem Bunker (https://anthembunker.com/) AV Bunker provides safe, secure services for your most valued possessions. Anthem National Reserve Expert consultation services in the acquisition of bullion precious metals and rare coin investments.
AGLD Tokens The token symbol is AGLD AGLD MAINNNET CONTRACT –
0xd668dAb892F1B702a6B9EE01342508B14d4E62C5
9 decimals For more info see: https://anthemgold.com/tokeninfo As of June 16th, 2019 the average AGLD Price is 43.62 USD. Holders of AGLD crypto tokens can use them to withdraw physical gold bullion. AGLD circulates through the Edge Wallet, a mobile only, which can be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store. (https://edge.app/) Fees Users holding the digital token are charged a storage and insurance fee, which covers the costs of securely storing all that gold bullion. Here’s how that fee works: There is a charge of 10 basis points per quarter (Mar 31, Jun 30, Sep 30, Dec 31) ) applied to store all insured gold bars in the vault. The fee is applied by selling gold bar(s) once sufficient storage fees are accrued to facilitate a bar sale. Unfortunately, for US players, AGLD is still waiting for approval
16 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
to transact in the following states. Customer residing outside the U.S., in most countries, can purchase and participate, except the usual jurisdictions listed through the OFAC.
the original order. After this process is complete, the delivery box, gold and any other content part of the shipment is photographed and the tracking information regarding the shipment is sent to buyer.
The company is still working to be licensed for sales in these U.S. States. Potential AGLD customers in these states can’t buy digital tokens from Anthem yet.
Safekeeping Of The Physical Gold The gold is taken to the vault area that is sealed off and the access to the vault restricted. AnthemGold, the buyer, and seller receive a notification on the status of the gold. Buyers have the option of receiving their gold at the shipment drop off or collecting it from representatives at the Amagi Shipping offices. Since the AnthemGold is backed by gold, as soon as a gold bar is verified by the platform, the buyer will receive 1000 AnthemGold (AGLD) for each kilogram of gold.
Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Massachusetts
Michigan Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin
How AnthemGold Works Using the AnthemGold website, gold buyers can place their gold orders and Amagi Metals will facilitate the entire purchase process as well as the record keeping. In addition, Hercules Supply Chain Blockchain Protocol secures the buying and the selling of Gold using the AnthemGold cryptocurrency. Once an order is placed, inventory is delivered to the Amagi Shipping office, and the Amagi officials sign for receipt of the gold. Recorded visual verification also takes place whereby the delivery box is carefully opened and the gold in the box is handled with protective gear to prevent any damage or residue on the gold. The gold is then weighed, measured, and sonically tested and pictures are taken of the gold bars from all angles to document all the sides of the bar. The gold’s serial number, manufacturers, gross weight, and assay information is recorded and saved using the InterPlanetary File System to confirm them against
Social https://twitter.com/anthemgold https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeuBd6X31xAVdMhbC7S0Fbg
https://www.facebook.com/AnthemGold/
Fund Raising AnthemGold is currently listed on BnkToTheFuture. com a fund raising website for accredited investors. The Pitch: “AnthemGold aims to make Gold easy to use as a currency. Get a head start before Anthem Gold goes live to the largest community of qualifying FinTech investors on the Online Investment Platform – BnkToTheFuture. AnthemGold - Making Precious Metal digital with the team behind Amagi Metals, Anthem Vault & GoldMoney.” As of June 2019 their offering is completed. The $500,000 listing was heavily overfunded and raised $648,093. The convertible note was sold to 123 investors. What is HERC? Hercules, a Special Economic Zone Company develops supply chain management software that utilizes public blockchains. The Hercules platform is decentralized and powered by HERC tokens which are required to record and validate the supply chain data. Hercules is a decentralized blockchain protocol platform that enables anyone to operate a fully functioning supply chain that utilizes Proof of Human Work to validate transactions. Developed and Advised by founders of Ethereum, Factom, Storj, Abra Wallet, Edge Security, Waves, Transform, and Blockchain Exchange, the world’s leading blockchain organisations, Hercules is designed to serve 120+ million businesses
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
a year already managing their supply chain as well as billions of aspiring entrepreneurs. Harnessing the power of blockchain software, HERC tokens are utility tokens that allow users to create custom supply chains by defining the items to be tracked and information to be recorded in the Hercules mutilayered least cost routing blockchain protocol. Hercules blockchain software tracks physical inventory in a supply chain with a digital source to store and review auditing information. The HERC software access token is designed to erase ongoing problems in centralized supply chain management such as: • Frequent supply shortages. • Low order-filling and inefficient logistics rates. • Lack of end-to-end visibility and counterfeiting of assets. • Compromise of quality and high operational costs. • Ineffective supply chain risk management. • Lack of collaboration among different entities. • Limited access to data about the state of entire supply chain networks.
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 17
The HERC Blockchain The Hercules Protocol & Platform is a global supply chain repository providing a complete list of all trackable assets, and accessible to anyone with permission. Hercules provides business people with the data integrity advantages of blockchain technology, enabling their goods to be trusted and exchanged with a world wide market. Hercules SEZC announces that its first use case, AnthemGold, Inc., is using the Hercules Supply Chain Blockchain Protocol to validate the chain of custody of gold kilogram bars backing its gold-backed AGLD asset tokens with indisputable data integrity. The Hercules Blockchain Platform makes AnthemGold’s AGLD tokens one of the most innovative, transparent and useful ways of owning pure gold in history. The Hercules Protocol allows the public to verify that the gold bars backing AGLDs are real. Hercules Supply Chain Protocol—an open source software and decentralized blockchain protocol— provides decentralized proof of custody and verification for physical assets.
18 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
Q&A with Mr. Logan Ryan Golema, CTO of AnthemGold Q. You have a new approach to digital gold with your crypto-currencies, including the HERC. Can you tell us more about how your tokens work? A. Hercules Supply Chain Blockchain Protocol was specifically designed and developed with ease and simplicity in mind. It’s no wonder that the Vault Technicians at AnthemBunker have been able to log all the bars backing the AGLD tokens leveraging the HERC token and platform. Please see the video located on the next page about that discusses, in detail, how things work. Q. Supply chain management is a critical application of blockchain technology. When did you start developing your ideas in this area, and what can you tell us about how it works? A. From the beginning of operations we knew we had to differentiate ourselves from our market competitors. Blockchain technology has become very commonplace and if you hire a developer it’s really easy to just say you have something and then tokenize it. Providing indisputable data stating the provenance and makeup of the asset (in our case .9999 1kg Gold Bars) is an entirely different story. It took us 12 months to develop our version 1 of Hercules and since then we’ve gone through a myriad of quality assurance sessions to ensure its ease of use. Since October 2018 we’ve signed various vertical partners and specifically launched AnthemGold. We provide detailed information of all bars such as: • • • • • • •
Serial numbers Blockchain Timestamp of Entry Gross Weight Photographic evidence XRF Purity Analysis Test Results 24/7 Live Vault Feed More details are visible on our website
All of this information is stored and presented in a decentralized independently verifiable format. Our community of token holders can rest assured their asset backed tokens are in fact fully backed by the real thing. Stay tuned for more developments from AnthemGold such as deployments onto new networks such as EOS & Liquid and updates in our flagship MyVault technology. As for HERC we are working on bringing NFTs to Supply Chain Managers while creating a simple to use dashboard for viewing and managing these assets. We pride ourselves in our extensive testing and quality assurance and look to the community to recommend new features through our Improvement Proposals section of our Github: https://github.com/hercone/hips https://github.com/anthemgold/ agips Q. Is there a public market for your crypto-currencies, and if so, how do our readers get involved in buying into your work? A.You can visit us on the web at https://anthemgold.com to get started. What’s amazing, for the first time ever our verified community members can buy Gold fractionalized to the 0.000000001 (Billionth) of a Gram using Lightning Bitcoin payments for orders under 10 USD, or Ethereum & Bitcoin for orders above that level. Q. Digital Gold Magazine is supported by advertisers, and we’re happy to take digital gold tokens in payment, provided there is a public market for them. How do we get involved in accepting digital gold using AGLD? A. We’re currently in talks with merchants to integrate AGLD and will make official announcements as soon as we can. It’s been our pleasure to develop in tandem with many of our colleagues in the industry and we look forward to bringing the community in as soon as we can.
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 19
AnthemGold Announces Launch of Its Gold-Backed Asset Token AGLD April 10, 2019 AUSTIN, Texas--AnthemGold, Inc., a Texas-based blockchain company, is excited to announce the launch of its gold-backed asset token “AGLD” today. AnthemGold CEO Anthem Hayek Blanchard states, “This historic launch today is the result of years of hard work, commitment, teamwork, patience, persistence, and incredible support from the blockchain and gold communities. AGLD is the 1st gold stablecoin available to U.S. citizens and residents and the 1st to be offered to U.S. citizens and residents of select states. Our mission is to increase freedom of wealth movement globally, especially to those most in need, by merging the oldest form of monetary value — gold — with the newest form of monetary value, cryptocurrency and blockchain.” AnthemGold is a cost effective and secure way to buy, own, and utilize physical gold electronically. Each AGLD is backed by one gram of gold, and each token represents direct ownership of physical gold bullion held in the form of fully-allocated, segregated London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Good Delivery bars within the highly-secure Anthem Bunker storage facility. The gold kilo bars are all verified by X-ray spectrometer and bar inventory log, complete with X-ray and photo images. This is all saved in an indisputable format using Hercules supply chain protocol, before being added to the AnthemGold bar inventory. “Today is an historic event that we believe will be world changing,” says Logan Golema, AnthemGold’s CTO. “People affected around the world by crippling currency regimes will now have a solid option they can turn to as an instantly useable store of value.” For more information, please visit AnthemGold’s website: AnthemGold.com.
20 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
Digix & Tangem: Storing Digital Assets Offline with Digix Smart Card From Digix Medium by Laura Zhang June 20, 2019 20 June 2019 — Digix and Tangem have formed a partnership to produce DGX smart cards to store DGX offline. With the Digix-Tangem card, DGX can be transferred from the customer’s digital wallet into the card or directly to other Digix-Tangem cardholders. Digix is the world’s first smart asset company that builds on the perks of blockchain technology for the creation of gold-backed tokens, DGX. DGX has the benefits of being stable, transferable, secure, transparent and a guarantee of 1 DGX token is equivalent to 1 gram of investment-grade gold. The secured physical gold are located in vaults out of Singapore and Canada. With the objective of unlocking the fungibility of traditionally-illiquid asset classes, Digix has
partnered with Tangem — aiding in increasing the liquidity of assets and payment options. Tangem, a Swiss technology company produces Tangem cards, a hardware wallet in a NFC smart card enabling physical distribution and storage of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. Increasing its user experience, Tangem has built a userfriendly app that allows easy and quick access to the user’s data. Within the smart card, a secure chip is embedded to hold funds and the private key which Tangem will never disclose. Additionally, harnessing the blockchain technology, the decentralized data is fraud-proof and secured. Fully disconnected from the Internet, Tangem cards act as a cold wallets, ensuring funds are securely stored in the physical card without risking the odds of hacking or online theft. The limited edition run
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
of Digix-Tangem cards will be rewarded to loyal customers and exclusively available at Digix’s events. “Building upon our drive to showcase practical use-cases for digital assets, we can now showcase the security and flexibility of storing digital assets through a physical bank card . By allowing our digital credits to be stored on Tangem’s proprietary bank cards, we highlight that blockchain can improve upon card ecosystems by championing a higher degree of protection.” said Shaun Djie, COO and co-founder
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 21
of Digix. “Digix has showcased a viable blockchain innovation for the future of gold investments, that is consumeraccessible and stable for growth. Partnering with Digix allows us to advance a more sophisticated card security mechanism, with the familiarity of bank cards, for the benefit of users.” said Andrey Kurennykh, CEO and co-founder of Tangem. See videos below for examples of this fine product.
22 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
LD.2 - Asset-Backed Cryptocurrency
LD2.zero is an asset-backed cryptocurrency that facilitates vaulted, physical ownership of precious metals. https://ld2coin.io/ The ERC-20 token symbol is XLDZ. The LD2.zero contract address is 0x2f5cdc81a729b750f3b733cb95660e788441c71e. The exchange rate for the crowdsale is $35 USD per LD2.zero token. The price of LD2.zero tokens is pegged at $35/ounce.
Every LD2.zero digital token is a digital warehouse receipt, fully redeemable through the depository for its precious metals backing – one troy ounce of brilliant uncirculated (BU) .999 fine silver – minted specifically as a limited edition collectible. Each LD2 digital token can be redeemed for the physical silver directly from the depository. That redemption form can be found under “Physical Redemption” in the LD2.zero drop-down menu above. The one troy ounce of .999 fine silver backing each LD2 digital token is stored in the vault as a minted coin,
ready for physical redemption. For LD2.zero each coin is the limited-edition 20th Anniversary Liberty Dollar commemorative. The warehouse is located at NAM in Rochester, NY. Only 10,000 LD2.zero tokens total in this issuance. Physical, in-person, monthly examinations by an independent auditing/accounting firm ensures that for every LD2 token issued, exactly one ounce of .999 fine physical silver is on deposit at the depository. The auditor also verifies that the total number of burned tokens equals the number of ounces shipped by the depository during token redemptions. In addition to the examination reports the auditor and depository both independently update the smart contract. Each monthly examination report, beginning in May 2018, is available as a PDF below. https://t.me/LD2Coin https://twitter.com/Ld2Coin https://www.reddit.com/r/ld2
Monthly Independant Audits Published to Website https://ld2coin.io/vault-examinations/
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 23
LD2.ZERO
THE PRE-ISSUANCE OF LD2, AN ASSET-BACKED CRYPTOCURRENCY INTRODUCTION LD2 is an asset-backed cryptocurrency that facilitates vaulted, physical ownership of precious metals. LD2 embodies the spirit, methodology, principles and community of the Liberty Dollar currency. Building on this predecessor, LD2 aims to function as a “stablecoin” – a globally liquid, value-stable, low-volatility, cryptocurrency, without a central bank, 100% backed by precious metals. The LD2 cryptocurrency functions as a blockchain-based digital warehouse receipt, with the silver-backing on deposit with a third-party vault and an independent auditor providing a monthly audit of all holdings on deposit at the vault. The auditor works on behalf of token holders to verify that all issued tokens are backed by the speciÞed amount of assets. For LD2.zero this third-party vaulting veriÞcation and independent auditing ensures there is exactly one troy ounce of .999 Þne
physical silver in the vault for each token issued at all times – independent of token ownership. As a digital warehouse receipt, every LD2 token is redeemable through the third-party depository for the precious metal on deposit. Physical redemption not only structures LD2’s economics and value proposition, but builds trust with token holders, something badly needed within the existing cryptocurrency market/ecosystem.
LD2.zero OPPORTUNITY As a pre-issue to the publicly-available LD2 cryptocurrency, a “version zero” will be issued as an ERC20 token on the Ethereum blockchain. This very limited token will be offered only for private sale, by invitation only, and will help ensure/fund full operational functionality prior to larger issuances. Each issued token has its storage and insurance prepaid for ten (10) years from the token issue date with reserved silver held at the third-party vault. Token holders can redeem their precious metals/silver at any time. Unlike the open-issue LD2.silver tokens, only 10,000 LD2.zero tokens will issued and backed by a limited edition piece, one troy ounce brilliant uncirculated (BU) .999 Þne silver coin with the stunning 20th Anniversary Liberty Dollar design. Only an additional 1,000 of these coins will be available outside this LD2.zero issuance so this will be the Þrst opportunity to secure a portion of this imminently rare coin. LD2.zero tokens will not be listed on exchanges, but rather exchanged peer-to-peer through ERC20-compatible wallets. By participating in LD2.zero now you will not only secure the best opportunity to purchase a true numismatic specimen but support a new vision of Liberty Dollar and the viability of a value-based currency.
Each LD2.zero digital token, with one troy ounce .999 silver coin backing, is offered for $35. ADDITIONAL DETAILS PROVIDED IN THE LD2 WHITE PAPER AT LD2COIN.IO
© 2018 LD2, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized Distribution Prohibited.
24 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
A Transparent, Audited Stablecoin
One of our standards for a reliable stablecoin is an emphasis on regular third-party audits – both physical and digital accounting of the currency issued and regular examinations of the backing in the vault. Lots of cryptos talk about it. Few actually do it. Far fewer have audits performed by independent third parties. And no one speaks openly about the process. But having this additional assurance of the currency’s backing is good for token holders. It brings transparency to the cryptocurrency, and accountability to everyone involved. So how do we do it? When precious metals are stored in a vault at a depository, the depository has their own internal auditors that examine the vault to ensure that the appropriate amount of metals is on hand. Having this audit is important, but ultimately the auditor works for the depository. Because of this, LD2 retains an independent, world-class auditing firm to handle the vault inspections and reporting, working on behalf of all the token holders. Each month, these auditors do a physical vault examination to establish exactly how many ounces of metal are in the vault. The auditor attests to this number on the LD2 smart contract via an Ethereum transaction. Because of the public nature of the Ethereum blockchain, this transaction is available
for the world to see. The auditors will only attest to what they count, so if there is any inconsistency, it will be permanently be recorded on the LD2 smart contract. Anyone can view the verification, check the total currency supply on the contract, and see that at any time there is, in fact, one ounce of silver in the vault for every token issued. Finally, the Auditor issues a written examination report that includes the date of the examination, the total metal in the vault, the Ethereum transaction identifier that supports the examination report, and the examiner’s name and signature. This report is produced in a PDF and published on our website, again so that everyone can see exactly how much metal is in the vault, even if they don’t understand how to directly check the contract details. What’s more, the LD2 smart contract was designed in such a way that other developers can easily build tools to monitor the smart contract for inconsistencies. We believe that auditing and transparency should be core values of every stablecoin, so we go the extra mile to set the bar high with LD2. By Steven Brendtro
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 25
GoldGram Unveils GGC GoldGramCoin® -- A New Asset-Backed Gold Token May 13, 2019, Singapore-based GoldGram Pte. Ltd. today unveiled its new asset-backed token, GGC GoldGramCoin®, a digital currency inextricably backed 100% by physical 99.99% fine gold. GGC can be redeemed at any time. https://www.goldgramcoin. com/ Founded in 2018 by Laurence Cross, Steffen Gemuenden and Mark Diekmann - entrepreneurs with extensive experience in finance, precious metals and trading technology - GoldGram created GGC using a proprietary private blockchain technology based on Ethereum and Hyperledger. The Hyperledger component allows GoldGram to store vast amounts of information pertaining to GGC, while Ethereum provides the ability to create an ERC-20 token offered as an audited, secure “smart” contract with live prices of gold. Among the key differentiators of GGC compared to other gold-backed tokens are: • Intrinsic, inextricable link to underlying gold in a secure vault • Ability to purchase, sell or redeem at live prices • Fully automated process • Highly liquid and tradable Cross, GoldGram Co-Founder and CEO, said: “GGC gives you the ability to digitally transfer stored gold around the world, in one-click, at the speed of an instant message. GGC is a medium of exchange, a unit of accounting and a store of value - the true definition of money.” Gemuenden, GoldGram Co-Founder, said: “Through GGC, we are connecting the traditional trading world with the digital world. We are paving the way for market participants to trade GGC against other financial instruments, whether they are traditional gold-based products, fiat currencies or other digital assets.” Cross started his career as a Navy diver, later becoming a salvage diver who recovered sunken gold and silver. Seeing gold emerge untarnished after 200 years underwater was one of the driving forces behind GoldGram. Cross co-founded and became Chairman of Visson Enterprises Ltd., an Israeli-based technology company that counted Philips Electronics as an investor
in its innovative, proprietary technology in foldable, liquid crystal displays. Gemuenden co-founded RTS Realtime Systems in 1992 and served as its Chairman and CEO until Bloomberg acquired the company in 2014. RTS developed a multiasset class trading platform connected to 135 exchanges across the world through its own low-latency network and data centers. Diekmann is Founder and Managing Director of CoInvest Group, a structured finance specialist and wellknown funding partner to a variety of start-ups, including a regulated precious metals trading specialist. He is a member of the advisory board of Commerzbank and served as a regular advisor to the German Parliament. Our goal at GoldGram is to realign the old system of the ‘Gold Standard’ with that of the new system of ‘Digitized’ money tokens – replace the old paper money with a digitized token – and then secure the token’s value with allocated gold held in a secure vault, thereby creating the 21st Century Digital Gold Standard. In the past this just wasn’t possible – technology didn’t permit it; however, today GoldGram is linking a GoldGramCoin® or GGC to 1 gram of 99.99% Fine Gold – meaning your GGC should never drop below the value of 1 gram of gold bullion. GoldGram has introduced the ‘digitized’ money token that fulfills all the criteria of the definition of money – as a medium of exchange – as a store of value – and as a unit of account.
26 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 27
How to Make a Fortune in the GoldBacked Crypto Revolution
March 6, 2019 By Nick Giambruno, chief analyst, Crisis Investing For thousands of years, gold has been the safe-haven asset. No government can easily confiscate, nationalize, freeze, or devalue it at the drop of a hat. It’s simply the best way to preserve wealth over the long term. Now, with the advent of cryptocurrencies and decentralized blockchain technology, people have a complementary tool for advancing their financial freedom. Recently, dozens of gold-backed digital currencies have started to gain traction. In a world dominated by constantly depreciating government fiat currencies, I think gold-backed digital currencies are a convenient way for ordinary people to protect their wealth. Let’s take a step back and look at how it all started… The World’s First Digital Currency E-gold was the world’s first, temporarily successful, private digital currency. Douglas Jackson established the currency in 1996, about 13 years before bitcoin came about. As the name implies, it was 100% backed by gold. In other words, account holders could redeem their e-gold for actual, physical gold.
28 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
With e-gold, Jackson tried to tap the 1990s internet revolution and bring sound money to ordinary people. He thought e-gold could liberate the world from the ills of central banks and fiat currencies. And, for a while, it looked like it might. Within a few years, e-gold became the world’s second-most popular online payment system, just behind PayPal. Anyone in the world could anonymously open an e-gold account. From there, users could instantly transfer grams of gold to other users and merchants. At first, Jackson stored e-gold’s precious metals in safety deposit boxes in Florida. As the company grew, he moved the bullion into secured vaults in London and Dubai. At its peak, e-gold had over five million customer accounts, spanning 165 countries. A thousand new accounts were opened daily. Unfortunately, nothing escapes the eye of Sauron… Eventually, e-gold’s soaring international popularity caught the attention of the U.S. government. Jackson may have been a visionary and a firm believer in sound money. But he was also naïve. The U.S. government imposes strict regulations and licensing requirements on financial companies. This includes an obligation to collect all sorts of customer information for so-called “Know Your Customer” and anti-money laundering laws. Financial companies also have to file a report with the U.S. government for every transaction involving $10,000 or more. Plus, there’s another mandatory report for any sort of “suspicious” financial activity – a vague, broadly defined concept. Jackson made many foolish mistakes here. E-gold didn’t comply with any of these laws. And because of that, it painted a big, red target on its back. Fake Crimes The U.S. government and its media allies have convinced the average person that “privacy” is a dirty word. They’ve duped people into believing that only sneaks and criminals want privacy. “If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to worry about,” as the popular – but wrongheaded – adage goes. Unfortunately, the U.S. government has essentially forced the whole world to adopt privacy-killing regulations in the name of the War on Drugs, the War on Terror, anti-money laundering, etc. Many people have forgotten that privacy is fundamental to preserving human dignity and protecting individuals from government overreach. Of course, Jackson wasn’t doing anything unethical. He made a practical misstep, not an ethical one. It illustrates a vital point: The crucial difference between a real crime and a violation of the law. Laws vary dramatically across countries. But real crimes are the same the world over. They involve harm or the threat of harm to person or property. Think murder, theft, or arson – things universally considered immoral.
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 29
Virtually every government prohibits real crimes. But most also prohibit a lot of other stuff. Real Punishment In late 2005, a fleet of black SUVs surrounded Jackson’s home and offices. Dozens of heavily armed federal agents raided any location having anything to do with e-gold. They confiscated all of the computers and company records. Eventually, Jackson was arrested on charges of money laundering, conspiracy, and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. He was sentenced to 36 months of supervised release – including six months of house arrest, during which he was forced to wear an electronic ankle monitor. With that, the U.S. government effectively shut down e-gold. It was disappointing, but also completely predictable. Even so, Jackson’s goals were admirable. He strongly believed that President Nixon’s decision to cut the dollar’s final link to gold in 1971 was highly destructive. I couldn’t agree more. Nixon’s move turned the dollar into a pure fiat currency. This is why the Federal Reserve can create unlimited amounts of currency. Today, there are only so many convenient ways ordinary people can push back against this. I think Jackson’s plan to bring a simple, sound money alternative to the masses was quite worthwhile. First, it showed that a private digital currency could work. E-gold helped pave the way for the cryptocurrency revolution, years before bitcoin. Second, it proved that the global market for a gold-backed digital currency is enormous. Had Jackson managed the company better, it’s entirely possible that e-gold could have surpassed PayPal and become the world’s top online payment system. Now, with the advent of cryptocurrencies and decentralized blockchain technology, dozens of gold-backed digital currencies are sprouting up that could make Jackson’s vision a reality. Gold and Cryptos For thousands of years, gold has been the safe-haven asset. That’s because it’s durable, divisible, consistent, convenient, and has intrinsic value. When you hold physical gold, no government can easily confiscate, nationalize, freeze, or devalue it at the drop of a hat. Gold is also universally valued. Its worth doesn’t depend on any government. There is nothing particularly American, Chinese, Russian, or European about gold. Different civilizations have used it as money for millennia. It’s always been an inherently international asset. I do not think cryptos are a substitute for physical gold, nor are they a threat to gold’s value. Gold is still the best way to preserve wealth over the long term. Instead, I see cryptos as a complementary tool you can use to advance your financial freedom. Why abandon your wealth to a constantly depreciating government fiat currency – sitting in an insolvent, fractional reserve bank – when you can easily have a gold-backed crypto?
30 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
I also think cryptos are a “gateway drug” to gold. They get people to think about the very nature of money, something very few people would ordinarily do. Many discover the destructive nature of fiat money and central banking because of cryptos. And that inevitably leads them to gold. However, owning large amounts of physical gold presents its own challenges. It’s hard to store securely, move long distances, and break down into smaller amounts. A gold-backed crypto can help address these drawbacks. A Financial Revolution As I’m sure you know, bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can be wildly volatile. This is a problem for anyone looking to use cryptos in the regular course of business. Gold-backed cryptos, on the other hand, should have relatively stable prices. This should make them appealing to merchants, lenders, businesses, investors, escrow services, and the like… Anyone who wants to conduct business in gold – but also wants the convenience of cryptocurrencies. Businesses could use gold-backed cryptos to pay rent, salaries, or other ordinary expenses. The possibilities are enormous. I think gold-backed cryptos could create a genuine revolution in finance. And the time to position yourself to profit is now. To start, consider buying some bitcoin. Bitcoin is the reserve currency of the crypto world, so you’ll need it to buy gold-backed cryptos. Nick Giambruno, Chief Analyst, Crisis Investing This article came from friends at Casey Research https://www.caseyresearch.com/articles/how-to-make-a-fortune-in-the-gold-backed-crypto-revolution/ For over a quarter of a century, legendary investor and best-selling author Doug Casey and his team at Casey.
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 31
TxGold is Backed by Gold & Based in Texas TxGold is available to residents in all countries, including 43 of the 50 U.S. States. Each TxGold token is equivalent to 1/100 oz of a minted gold coin. 100 TxGold tokens equal a one-ounce gold coin. TxGold https://www.restore.money/txgold Get started buying digital gold online here: https:// www.restore.money/gettingstarted TxGold is available to residents in all countries, including 43 of the 50 U.S. States (already approved). As of late February 2019, the Restore Money Foundation in Texas has been offering a new gold crypto call TXGold. This gold-backed crypto circulates on the Steller blockchain platform, and presently, the company recommends using the Interstellar Wallet. Get it here: https://interstellar.exchange/ What is the Restore Money Foundation? The Restore Money Foundation (RMF) is a new organization located in Houston, TX that is committed to raising awareness of the problems associated with government-issued currency. RMF is committed to enabling fast, reliable, and affordable payments to users worldwide Restore Money Foundation 5100 Westheimer Rd Suite 200 Houston, TX 77056 713-588-4479 (phone) Admin@restoremoney.org Some of the critical issued being addresses are eroding dollar value, runaway government debt, boom & bust cycles, along with a general loss of freedom. The Foundation is responsible for creating gold-backed TxGold, a real-world alternative to fiat money. Creating the crypto took designers one and a half years of research and development. Physical gold coins back the TxGold digital units which are redeemable for gold stored in a secure and insured facility within the great State of Texas. Gold deposits are also insured by Lloyd’s of London. The process of acquiring TxGold tokens enters
the user into a bailment agreement with RMF. This contract legally compels RMF to store and redeem, upon request, physical gold for TxGold tokens. *Bailment is a legal relationship where physical possession of the personal property is transferred from one person (the ‘bailor’) to another person (the ‘bailee’) for safekeeping. RMF is acting as a bailee to store the physical gold of a token holder (the bailor). RMF agrees to store physical gold and (when requested) redeem physical gold for TxGold tokens according to the redemption ratio and redemption policy. Please see User Agreement for additional details. http://bit.ly/2X5wgs8 Customers recognize TxGold as a “viable alternative to fiat money – and a great complement to existing crypto/ virtual currencies.” By using TxGold, customers are taking the first steps in a journey to restore the role of gold as sound money. TxGold tokens represent 1/100 of a 1 oz minted gold coin. In order to interact with the TxGold ecosystem, a user must first register with RMF, and provide identification, before receiving TxGold tokens. This identification process is very similar to providing identification/supporting documents when signing up for a bank account. Customers can also fund digital wallets with physical gold delivered to the company. Users can purchase physical gold coins from Wholesale Coins Direct and JM Bullion using a variety of methods to pay and have them shipped directly to the Texas Bullion Depository; the first precious metals depository with State oversight. https://www.texasbulliondepository. gov/ This Depository is an agency of the state of Texas, enacted into law in 2015, and opened for business in 2018. http://bit.ly/2Y7MWvl Users holding TXGOLD digital tokens can redeem them for physical gold, with a one-ounce minimum. The operation is also placing open orders on Stellar’s decentralized exchange, making it easy to purchase TxGold with other crypto tokens such as BTC. Existing cryptocurrency owners can acquire TxGold by exchanging tokens such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, & Lumens.
32 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
Information on that report is published on the website. https://www.restore.money/blog/independentreview Seasoned professionals formed the RMF and it meets all regulatory requirements. TxGold online content suggests the tokens can and should be used as an alternative to fiat currency. The “pitch” to buy or own TxGold is down to earth without any wild claims or “investment” language. The website talks down owning TxGold as an investment and promotes its use as a daily unit of exchange. This friendly & truthful approach is somewhat unique in the “to the moon” world of cryptocurrency. It’s nice to read language such as this from the TxGold website.
TxGold should not be prone to wild crypto market price swings. Users consider TxGold to be a more stable unit because its value is pegged to the price of gold. Transaction settlement time on the Stellar platform is just 2-4 seconds. Daily use of TxGold in personal and business payments is fast, convenient, and cost-effective. An independent accounting firm (The Potter & Golden, P.C. Accounting Firm) reviews and publishes report details about the physical gold that backs the digital TxGold units.
Users who acquire TxGold should not expect any profit; we are not “investing” funds in any type of enterprise; rather, we are providing storehouse services and “warehouse receipts” (i.e. tokens) for physical gold. Fees TxGold offers extremely low-cost transaction fees (no cost to receive tokens, less than 1 U.S. penny equivalent to send 1000 payments). TxGold charges a modest (0.48%) annual fee for securely storing gold. In other words, RMF will periodically use a small fraction of all gold holdings to pay for storage; the fee works out to 0.48% on an annual basis.
Restore Money Foundation uses Shufti Pro to Accelerate Customer On-boarding Process Launching a gold-backed currency means complying with a host of anti-money laundering and customer identification requirements. Restore Money Foundation (RMF) is pleased to announce that it has selected Shufti Pro to help with its customer on-boarding process. TxGold, RMF’s gold backed currency, is based in Texas and available to users worldwide. To comply with U.S. federal regulations, RMF needs to collect and confirm custom identification data. “We struggled quite a bit to find someone that could work with our organization (a startup) and provide a flexible identity verification API.”, says Tyler Chessman, founder of RMF. With both “on-site” and “off-site” verification, documentation from an end-user can be collected either directly by Shufti Pro - or by the customer. RMF uses off-site verification, allowing it to collect and pre-process some of the identification data. “After we’ve collected an end-user’s name, date of birth, and a picture of their ID or passport, we are able to send this over to Shufti Pro to verify the authenticity of the user’s ID. The API is flexible, giving us the option to add additional verification steps as needed.” Document verification isn’t an easy as it sounds, especially when users are allowed to upload their own photo; camera quality, lighting/glare, and photo angles present challenges to exclusively automated approaches. “We were actually turned away by a few companies - companies who specialize in document verification after they learned about our on-boarding process.”, says Tyler. “Using a combination of both Artificial and Human Intelligence, Shufti Pro is uniquely able to meets RMF’s on-boarding and identification requirements”, says Victor Fredung - CEO of Shufti Pro. “We are delighted RMF has selected us to help meet with their customer identification requirements.”
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 33
34 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
Novem Gold Novem Gold Ag Dr. Grass Strasse 12, Vaduz, LIECHTENSTEIN 9490, LI https://novem.com/ Novem offers two blockchain products. $NNN Tokens The $NNN 999.9 token delivers a safe new digital path to gold ownership. $NNN is the 999.9 goldbacked security token which takes its name from high purity 999.9 gold bullion. Every 100 $NNN tokens are backed by 1 gram of pure gold held in a secure vault; each token represents one-hundredth of a gram. $NNN circulates on the NEO blockchain, and most users classify the $NNN token as a stablecoin because of the commodity backing. The price of NNN tokens fluctuates with the cost of gold. $NNN tokens are classed as a security and were not part of the ITO (initial token offering). NEO’s blockchain technology enhances security and transparency for gold owners. Novem Gold was the first gold-backed token traded on the NEO blockchain. Using the NEO blockchain and Novem’s secure gold resources, the $NNN 999.9 token is capable of handling the swift transfer of precious metal value anywhere in the world; without requiring the services of a bank. NEO blockchain technology affords an immutable, secure, and distributed smart-economy platform ideal for tokenizing real-world assets such as gold. Transactions on NEO settle about every fifteen seconds, which is advantageous for commerce in the retail world. The company behind Novem claims that gold bullion reserves certified by LBMA, and stored securely in Liechtenstein, back all digital gold value represented online by $NNN tokens. The website shows there are currently 37kg of gold bullion in that secure storage facility (6/22/19). Ownership of this Novem physical bullion is reported to be held by a trust.
$NVM Tokens The second blockchain unit offered by Novem is a utility token with the trading symbol $NVM, and an extensive ITO offering distributed it. $NVM blockchain utility tokens, are not backed by gold and can be used to purchase $NNN tokens at favorable rates. • $NVM is used to pay for services and products of NOVEM • Built on the NEO blockchain • Provides additional benefits for current and future partners • Bonus paid when used to buy Novem gold • Tradeable on cryptocurrency exchanges Every quarter, Novem Gold AG will use a minimum of 10% of its annual profits to repurchase and burn $NVM tokens. Additionally, a minimum of 50% of the 999.9 token transfer fees will also be used to repurchase and burn $NVM tokens. The company will announce buybacks and burning on its website and social media. As of May 2019, Novem had sold $3.65 million worth of $NNN and $NVM tokens to private investors. These funds allowed the company to purchase gold and issue $NNN tokens. In total, the company will distribute 300 million $NVM tokens to private and public investors, the founding team, and the company fund. NNN 999.9 Minting Process Using the blockchain, Novem Gold overcomes the age-old problems of trust and transparency in the precious metals industry. Novem Gold AG guarantees the exchange of $NNN tokens for 999.9 LBMA-certified gold at any time. The gold-backed digital $NNN tokens are created, or minted after the physical bullion has been purchased and stored in the vault. The company reports that a Novem employee and confirmed all gold received for token backing is scanned and verified to be 100%
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
999.9 LBMA-certified gold. Once certified, the physical bullion is placed in the storage facility by partners in Liechtenstein. It is only after this partner confirms the bullion deposit that the minting process occurs and new $NNN tokens are issued. The total supply of $NNN tokens, and therefore, the amount of stored gold, can be requested by using the standard NEP-5 token supply method. It is the company’s goal to also store copies of paper records in a secure location on the blockchain. When the company removes gold from the secure vault, it initiates a token “burn process” that results in a decrease of $NNN digital tokens equal to the amount of removed gold bullion. This operation complies with the NEP-5 token standard proposal officially accepted by the NEO blockchain. Public messages will be posted through social media platforms whenever the burn process occurs. This governance verifies the existence of gold bullion backing the tokens. Novem Gold Ag states that the new digital gold operation is an extension of a decades-old Austrian gold trading business. Two long-term precious metal and gemstone experts experienced with international trade, in Germany, Austria, and the UAE. founded the company. Novem Gold’s cofounders are said to have decades of expertise trading precious metals. The $NNN token and the $NVM utility blockchain tokens are modern tools being used to expand global trading operations by offering a digital version of bullion at a completing market price. One of the useful features touted by Novem is the $NNN token’s natural link between gold and the blockchain which affords holders a simple direct link for the redeeming physical gold. Novem Gold represents that an independent firm frequently audits its business and that all gold is stored by Trisuna, which is one of the world’s leading firms in secure storage. Trisuna Lagerhaus AG / OZL AG, securely stores all gold backing $NNN tokens. (https://www.trisuna-lagerhaus.li/en/) International security transport company LOOMIS receives gold at the refinery and securely transports it to the high-security facility in Triesen, Liechtenstein.
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 35
Future Goals The company’s vision is to improve, transform, and disrupt the global gold industry through a network of brick-n-mortar stores that will advance its digital operation. By combining high ethical standards, modern communications, and advanced blockchain technology; Novem Gold aims to transform the precious metal industry. The company is combining the blockchain’s immutable, secure distributed ledger with an extensive global network of stores (coming soon). Their goal is to use the company’s brand name blockchain technology to remove hassles such as transportation and storage, making gold more accessible to the public. Novem’s solution should deliver standardized ethical principles, along with online and offline surety for gold buyers, refiners, and traders. Fees Novem generates its revenue from the buying and selling of gold. Every $NNN token blockchain transaction will incur a charge of 0.05%. 0.05% of the tokens will be moved to an address owned by Novem when $NNN tokens are transferred. These fees will be used to cover storage costs and to burn NVM tokens. After fundraising, the organization also aims to open one-hundred 100 new stores across Europe in the coming years. The company’s founder, Mr. Wolfgang Schmid, is a former resident of Munich, Germany. He estimates that there are approximately 1,400 existing store locations in Munich that purchase and sell gold. This retail situation presents an opportunity for Novem to advance sales. Novem will also sell physical products in-store, including their two digital cryptocurrency tokens. In the store, customers can purchase physical gold products with fiat currency or the Novem blockchain tokens. Additionally, anyone can sell their physical gold in one of the company’s brick-n-mortar stores. Advantages The use cases Novem applied in developing $NNN 999.9 tokens focused on the customer’s ability to own gold, without the conventional precious metal hassles. An additional focus targeted the opportunity to store cryptocurrency value on the blockchain
36 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
without exposure to well-known crypto price volatility. KYC & AML To purchase tokens, the company employs strict KYC & AML rules. All providers and companies Novem legally follow the laws of Liechtenstein as well as the recognized AML laws of other jurisdictions and agencies. Novem Web site https://novem.com Novem Telegram at https://t.me/NovemGold Novem Medium at https://medium.com/@NovemGold Novem Twitter at https://twitter.com/NovemGold Novem Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ NovemGold Novem Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/NovemGold/
Help us Save a Pangolin Now! https://www.svw.vn/adopt-a-pangolin/
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 37
Investing In Crypto Or Gold Is A Matter Of Trust Trust is one of the most sensitive topics in the world of investing. Whether it’s in cryptocurrencies or in gold, investors are always seeking safe and transparent assets to invest in. However, opaque organization and full-on Ponzi schemes in both the crypto and gold industry has driven investors away. Trust in the crypto world In the crypto world, a majority of scam projects that made investors reluctant to participate in public crowd sales happened last year. Right at the beginning of 2018, Bitconnect (a company that claimed to be a cryptocurrency lending platform) dissolved into the sands with millions of dollars of investor’s funds. The company had barely finished a year since its founding when it announced its shut down that ended up as one of the biggest exit scams in the history of cryptocurrency. Just a month after that, another cryptocurrency startup by the name “Loop” also pulled off an exit scam that left those who had invested in the startup’s ICO short of $4.5 million. These two are only an example of the multitude of scams that have been rampant in the crypto industry for years. Trust in the gold industry The gold industry is also not new to sordid dealings. Normally, investors looking to get in the gold market go for gold ETF offers as the most convenient option. However, one has to go through popular gold ETFs like the SPRD Gold Trust which is authorized to obtain underlying assets necessary to create gold ETF shares. The SPRD Gold Trust then uses a custodian such as the HSBC bank to store and source for the gold.
Entities like the HSBC, however, have a history of shoddy dealings not to mention involvement in money laundering cases. Besides, the entire process of investing in gold ETFs like the SPRD Gold Trust is full of multiple levels of counterparty risks that make it hard for casual investors to gain confidence with their investments. Blockchain for transparency, gold for stability As elusive as it might be, trust still remains to be one of the most valuable assets of both the gold and crypto industry. Perhaps through the use of Blockchain and smart contracts, both the cryptocurrency and gold industry can become part of a new transparent smart economy. Companies like Novem Gold are already at the forefront of this change. Novem Gold is combining the best of both the crypto and gold industry to bring about trust and accountability for investors. By using a gold-pegged stablecoin (the 999.9 token) Novem Gold is making it easy for investors to buy and store gold. After all, gold is known to perform positively during recessions throughout history. So why not use Blockchain’s transparency with gold’s proven stability to create a powerful innovation that investors can use to shield their portfolios against risks? Novem Gold’s entire approach is based on safety and transparency. Through the use of the NEO’s Blockchain, Novem Gold is providing institutional as well as retail investors a transparent stablecoin project that can handle secure storage and transfer of physical gold. From Novem Medium, May 19, 2007
38 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 39
Ekon Gold Please be advised that the information mentioned is not intended for citizens or residents of the United States of America, Canada, North Korea, China, and other restricted countries according to our AML policies.
Ekon Gold Token Eidoo Eidoo is a Swiss company with a stated goal of improving how people manage their assets and invest in the blockchain economy. Eidoo offers a hybrid exchange combined with a secure cryptocurrency wallet that delivers transparency and control over users’ financial assets. According to Coindesk, Eidoo raised $27.9 million through its token sale last October.
Transparency - Compliance - Low Fees As described by the company’s material:
The Eidoo Project is the first open, inclusive, global effort dedicated to the creation of an effective “blockchain - to - human interface”, simplifying the interaction between users and blockchain - based assets, without sacrificing the main advantages that this technology can bring. Its output will be a set of products and services providing a new intuitive, easy, consistent and safe user experience, focused around a simple and secure way to store, buy, sell, transfer, and exchange blockchain - based digital assets, including all the major “cryptocurrencies” and “tokens”, as well as buy or sell any goods paying in cryptocurrencies but without relying on any central authority.
Eidoo’s blockchain technology has delivered a “stablecoin” called Ekon Gold that is 100% backed by physical gold. Ekon Gold tokens have the symbol EKG, and circulate on the Ethereum platform. The tokens are a digital representation of gold that is easily manageable and transferable.
1 EKG Token = 1 Gram Gold EKG are ERC20 compliant tokens with each digital token representing one gram of physical gold. The company’s planned vision is to use the blockchain to help restore a monetary gold standard. The business is also on track to issue an Eidoo Pay / Debit Card in 2019. The website states that PluriAudit SA accurately audits all vaulted gold, an independent Swiss company specialized in auditing and business consulting services. The company stores all of the gold backing EKG in a private certified and insured vault located in Switzerland. The company’s online content and material give readers the impression that much has been done to remain compliant with regulations and to secure customer funds as required by law.
Purchasing EKG Tokens Customers can buy EKG tokens through the Eidoo app available on iOS, Android, and all desktop devices (Linux, Mac, and Windows). From https:// eidoo.io/ EKG tokens can be purchased by clicking the Ekon banner in Eidoo app, either through bank transfer or the Eidoo DEX integrated with the same app. Bank transfer orders require Tier2 verification, and the minimum amount for purchase is EUR 25,000 (twenty-five thousand). For amounts higher than EUR 250,000 contact the company, and an Ekon sales manager will take care of you. The website states the
40 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
following on pricing orders. The EKG/EUR rate will be determined at spot Gold market price plus a 7% fee: you will receive an EKG/EUR price quote valid for 3 working days. If your bank transfer will be accredited on our account later than 3 working days from the order, the EKG/ EUR price may change. Purchased tokens are only delivered to the ETH primary address as registered in EidooID.
Gold Bullion Redemption EKG token holders can redeem EKG for physical gold bars through a relatively straightforward process. An email is sent to contact@ekon.gold communicating the order and an EidooID Payment Reference for the purchase of a whole bar. The buyer receives a list of available bars, costs, and fees. At that time, the company adds a fee of 3% or EUR 500, whichever is higher. Once the client makes an EKG payment, the bullion is picked up or shipped. Tier2 verification in EidooID is mandatory on all redemptions. Ekon Gold is a quality stablecoin because it is backed 1:1 by gold and redeemable for physical bars. Additionally, EKG is offered with no storage fees.
exchange orders. It is clean automated trading. It is possible to buy EKG with cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum (ETH) and Tether (USDT) through the Eidoo app. It is also possible for users to purchase EKG with a European wire transfer using Eidoo’s innovative app. Ekon Gold is a meeting point somewhere between gold and cryptocurrency. Clearly identifying his potential global marketplace, Thomas Bertani, Director of Eidoo, has refered to Ekon as “Gold for Millennials.”EKG offers a store of value and an easy-to-use blockchain tool that can withstand cryptocurrency market fluctuations. Fees Fees for buying and selling EKG on the exchange are how Eidoo generates revenue, and these fees are paid in the form of a native crypto asset called the EDO token. https://t.me/EkonGold https://twitter.com/Ekon_gold https://www.linkedin.com/company/ekon-gold https://www.facebook.com/ekongold https://www.reddit.com/r/eidooapp/
As a novelty, the company monitors the interior of the vault by video, and it can be viewed by anyone online through a real-time streaming webcam.
© Eidoo SAGL Via Giuseppe Motta 10 6830 Chiasso - Switzerland +41 79 855 36 35
Eidoo and Ekon Gold comply with Swiss law, KnowYour-Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. To buy EKG tokens, users must also complete EidooID’s Tier2 Identity verification.
© Eidoo Lithuania, UAB Liepų al. 24 LT-35121 Panevėžys Lithuania
The Eidoo Wallet is the heart of the entire project containing a multicurrency wallet and a hybrid crypto exchange. Not only does it store and transact EKG tokens, but also many other tokens including EDO, ETH, USDT, BNB, AWN, LEO, GNTO, ERA, and BAT. Users can store tokens securely in the Eidoo wallet and also trade them. The Eidoo Hybrid Exchange enables the trading of ETH and ERC20 tokens through atomic swaps.
Media relations Glebb Metzger SPA - Domenico Andolfo +39 3358798019 · dandolfo@glebb-metzger.it
During trades, the smart contract executes automated logic processes, transferring funds according to the
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 41
42 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
Gold Good, Bitcoin Better
Over the last decade, bitcoin has grown from a smallscale experiment into the dominant leader of a new asset class. With a $100 billion market capitalization, bitcoin has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our lives. Just as the computer and the internet radically transformed the way people store, process, and exchange information, bitcoin radically enhances the ways we can store, process, and exchange value. While gold historically played a central role in economies driven by physical exchange, the world we live in today is digital. As our money and payment systems evolve, bitcoin has emerged as the ultimate store-of-value asset and an obvious replacement for gold.
That’s because Bitcoin possesses a superior composition of “good money” qualities made for a digital global economy:
Scarcity
Like gold, bitcoins are scarce assets. Just as new deposits of gold are discovered every day, new bitcoins enter circulation roughly every ten minutes. Unlike gold, however, the total supply of bitcoins that will ever enter circulation is limited to 21 million coins, which we’ll reach around the year 2140. Today, roughly 17.7 million bitcoins are in circulation, or 84% of the total amount.
Verifiability
Bitcoins are unique cryptographic assets[1] that are directly verifiable on the Bitcoin blockchain, in realtime, from anywhere in the world. But watch out for gold on the open market. Outside of vetted holders of gold bullion, you just might be buying yourself fool’s gold!
Durability
Bitcoins reside on an immutable open-source ledger
maintained by a global network of users. Because the network has no single point of failure, it is incredibly resistant to threats. As the exclusively native currency of a global financial network, bitcoins represent a resilient store-of-value with real utility.
Portability
As a digital asset, bitcoin is far more portable than gold. Connectivity to the internet is all that is needed to transact in bitcoin, whether via a computer or even the simplest of mobile devices. So, if you’ve got a phone – like 4.7 billion other people in the world – you can already carry, send, and receive bitcoins.[2]
Divisibility
All bitcoins are displayed to the eighth decimal place, creating 100 million units within each bitcoin. The smallest possible unit, a ‘satoshi,’ represents 0.00000001 of a single bitcoin. Imagine a world in which you can send a small fraction of a bitcoin instead of a “like” on Twitter to crowdfund charities or fund independent projects with the click of a button. Try doing that with a gold bar.
Fungibility
One bitcoin represents the same exact value as another bitcoin on the network. Can the same be said of gold? Would you trade a stranger’s gold ring for one of your own with the full confidence they were worth exactly the same amount?
Recognizability
Bitcoin is recognized by regulators around the world (in the U.S. specifically, bitcoin is classified as a commodity by the CFTC, as a non-security by the SEC and as property by the IRS) and more than 100,000 merchants worldwide now accept bitcoin including Shopify, Overstock.com, Dish, Expedia, PayPal and Microsoft.[3] That’s right – you can buy your next vacation with bitcoin.
www.digitalgoldmag.com | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | JULY | 43
Bitcoin: Digital Gold for a Digital Age
Bitcoin’s superior composition of “good money” qualities make it both a resilient store-of-value and an efficient medium of exchange. It is the new and improved “digital gold,” perfect for our digital society. TL;DR — it’s time to drop gold. Source: https://dropgold.com/gold-good-bitcoin-better/ Grayscale’s Director of Investments & Research, Matthew Beck, explores this idea in more detail in the Grayscale Insights Report: Bitcoin & the Rise of Digital Gold available at https:// grayscale.co/insights/. To learn more about Bitcoin, continue reading Why Bitcoin? https://dropgold.com/why-bitcoin/
[1] In computer science, cryptography refers to secure information and communication techniques derived from mathematical concepts and a set of rule-based calculations called algorithms to transform messages in ways that are hard to decipher. These deterministic algorithms are used for cryptographic key generation and digital signing and verification to protect data privacy, web browsing on the internet and confidential communications such as credit card transactions and email. Source: TechTarget Search Security. https://searchsecurity.techtarget.com/definition/cryptography. March 19, 2019. [2] Source: Statista. https://www.statista.com/ statistics/274774/forecast-of-mobile-phone-users-worldwide/. March 19, 2019. [3] Source: Due.com. Bitpay. March 19, 2019.
44 | JULY | DIGITAL
GOLD MAGAZINE | www.digitalgoldmag.com
Demand Spikes For Gold-Backed Tokens
By Paddy Baker at Cryptobriefing.com
Crypto winter has claimed many victims, but some coins are still as good as…. well, you know. Digix, a stablecoinlike asset backed by gold, has seen investor demand surge as prices rise for the precious metal. The Digix Gold Token (DGX) is an asset-backed digital currency, with each DGX token representing one gram of physical gold held in a vault in Singapore. The project believes this has made the gold market accessible to investors, allowing them to easily purchase and carry an asset well-known for its long-term stability. Cryptocurrencies were already volatile, but the latest storms have knocked the confidence out of the sector. Investors are looking to hedge against declining prices. At Digix, things have been going so well that they reportedly doubled their gold holdings in the last quarter, from 50kg to 100kg. The project’s co-founder, Shaun Djie, told Crypto Briefing this morning that “appetite has been growing” as more people begin to “switch onto the idea of digital gold.” “People appreciate hedging in economic uncertainty,” Djie explained during a call. “Digix is a stable store of value…gold holds against inflation and has stood the test of time.” Built on Ethereum, DGX holders can sell their tokens on the open market or even redeem them for the physical asset – at a minimum of 100 grams – should they wish. Djie explains they’ve already had three users redeem their tokens since DGX became tradeable last summer. The tokens are burned following redemption. Is gold the new bitcoin? Gold and bitcoin have overlapping characteristics which make them attractive to investors. Both are effectively decentralized and stateless: there is no central institution or company, as with fiat currencies or equities. Similarly, price movements in gold and BTC are normally independent of the stock market. As a long term asset, gold is also a very good hedge against inflation: its value rises when the cost of living increases.
Jan Van Eck, CEO of the eponymous investment management company – which recently withdrew its Bitcoin ETF application – believes that investors are moving away from cryptocurrencies, like bitcoin, and back into traditional stores of value, like gold. “I do think that Bitcoin pulled a little bit of demand away from gold last year, in 2017,” Van Eck said on CNBC last week. “Interestingly, we just polled 4,000 bitcoin investors and their number one investment for 2019 is actually gold. So gold lost to bitcoin and now it’s going the other way.” The last few years haven’t been kind to gold, but it showed signs of stabilizing just as bitcoin began to drop in the second half of 2018. Since August, gold rallied by 10%, while crypto tanked. Concerns over a global recession could explain the recent upswing in demand for DGX. Digix is expanding Although Digix’s only vault is currently in Singapore, Djie says they are already considering expansion to other jurisdictions. The project is currently looking to Europe as well as emerging economies, such as Vietnam, both which have seen rising demand in recent months. They’re hoping that as DGX gains traction, they’ll be able to attract investment from traditional sectors. Djie expects demand for Digix Gold Tokens to continue rising throughout the year if current market conditions continue. “Crypto winter is likely to last throughout this year and our tokens are likely to fare well during this period,” he said. The sector is still bearish and prices continue to fall. Tether (USDT) briefly made it into the top-four, and as Crypto Briefing reported yesterday, demand for the USD-pegged stablecoin is increasing as investors look to preserve value against a very uncertain future. The sector may no longer be hodling. But if Digix has its way, traders will all hopefully be ‘godling’ out this crypto winter. January 29, 2019 [an oldie but a goodie!] Source: https://cryptobriefing.com/digix-crypto-wintergold-tokens/