June 01, 2026
By Shubhii Verma
China Asset Management (Hong Kong) has launched a new low-cost gold exchange-traded fund (ETF) that combines traditional gold investing with blockchain technology, marking another major step in Hong Kong’s push to become a global hub for digital assets and tokenized finance.
The ChinaAMC Digital Gold ETF is set to begin trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, offering retail investors access to physically backed gold with one of the lowest entry costs in the city. The fund carries a management fee of 0.4% and requires a minimum investment of around HK$355 (approximately US$45), making it more accessible to younger and smaller investors compared to existing gold ETF products.
The ETF will be available in Hong Kong dollar, U.S. dollar, and Chinese yuan trading counters. Its value will track the London Bullion Market Association’s morning gold benchmark price through physical gold holdings stored in Hong Kong vaults.
Executives at ChinaAMC said the product aims to combine the stability of gold with the efficiency and innovation of blockchain infrastructure. Unlike investments tied to mining companies or financial issuers, the ETF is directly backed by physical gold, which the company believes could make it more attractive during periods of economic uncertainty.
The launch comes amid rising interest in gold investments as geopolitical tensions and global market volatility continue to drive demand for safe-haven assets. According to the World Gold Council, physically backed gold ETFs in Hong Kong recorded a record US$732 million in inflows during April.
While most retail investors will interact with the ETF like a traditional gold investment product, the fund also includes a tokenized component built on the Ethereum blockchain. This tokenized structure currently applies to the ETF’s unlisted share class, which allows investments starting from as little as US$1 through regulated digital platforms.
ChinaAMC executives explained that the full tokenization of the unlisted share class could eventually support blockchain-based secondary trading, faster settlements, and smart-contract features if regulations continue evolving.
Standard Chartered, which is providing custody, tokenization, and digital wallet infrastructure for the product, described the launch as a major example of how traditional assets can merge with blockchain finance.
The ETF launch also aligns with Hong Kong’s broader strategy of developing itself into both a gold trading center and a regulated digital asset hub. Authorities are currently working on a central gold clearing system, while Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing plans to relaunch gold futures products to improve liquidity and investor participation in the market.
