$1.6 Billion Tokenized Gold Moves to IRAs Amid DeFi Push

- SmartGold and Chintai Nexus tokenize $1.6 billion in vaulted gold for US retirement accounts. - Investors can collateralize tokenized gold in DeFi while preserving tax advantages. On September 2, 2025, Cointelegraph reported that gold-backed IRA provider SmartGold has partnered with tokenization platform Chintai Nexus to move $1.6 billion worth of vaulted gold onto the blockchain. This milestone allows US investors to include tokenized gold in self-directed Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), providing them with tax-advantaged investment options and unlocking new financial opportunities. Physical gold bullion, stored securely in vaults, backs each tokenized unit one-to-one. Investors can hold these blockchain-enabled tokens within their self-directed IRAs and use them as collateral on decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms like Morpho and Kamino. This allows them to access US dollar-denominated liquidity to reinvest in yield-bearing strategies, all while maintaining the tax-deferred protection of their IRAs and the security of the physical gold backing. The collaboration coincides with rising demand for tokenized commodities across financial markets, as blockchain networks are increasingly integrating gold, a longstanding hedge against inflation and a staple for portfolio diversification. This initiative highlights how regulated DeFi infrastructure can expand the utility of traditional assets and signals the broadening convergence between legacy finance and digital platforms. Self-directed IRAs currently account for 2% to 5% of the $10.8 trillion IRA market in the US. They have gained attention for offering access to unconventional assets like cryptocurrencies, real estate, and now blockchain-powered gold tokens. With tokenized gold entering the mix, investors have a novel avenue to diversify their portfolios within tax-advantaged structures. This move bridges traditional and digital asset markets and also underscores the growing synergy between gold's enduring value and the innovative potential of blockchain technology.