<div id="readability-page-1"><div><div><p>Investors seeking to marry the ancient security of gold with the digital efficiency of the blockchain now have a new avenue in Hong Kong.</p><p>Hang Seng Investment Management is set to debut its physical gold ETF on 29 January 2026, introducing a rare dual-structure that offers both traditional exchange-traded shares and tokenised units on a public ledger.</p><p>This launch arrives at a fever pitch for the bullion market, as the precious metal recently shattered records by climbing above $5,000 per ounce for the first time during Asian trading.</p><div><div><blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">The debut of Hang Seng Investment's gold exchange-traded fund, &#34;Hang Seng Gold ETF,&#34; has been announced. This Thursday, January 29, it is scheduled to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Odaily reports that HSBC would act as the tokenization agent for the ETF's tokenized… pic.twitter.com/Sbc1NS3Wss</p>— Viki (@RahulYa85927584) January 27, 2026</blockquote></div></div><h2>What Defines The New Dual Structure</h2><p>The Hang Seng Gold ETF, trading under the ticker 3170.HK, is designed to track the LBMA Morning Gold Price.</p><p>While traditional investors can buy and sell listed shares in board lots of 50 units on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, a separate class of tokenised unlisted units will exist on the Ethereum blockchain.</p><p>HSBC Bank is acting as the tokenisation agent for this digital wing, though the fund remains open to adopting other secure public blockchains in the future.</p><div><div><blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">['Hang Seng Investment launches the Hang Seng Gold ETF (https://t.co/PNKYprEZUQ) on HKEX, backed by physical gold in Hong Kong. Features tokenized fund units on Ethereum, with HSBC as tokenization agent. No secondary market. #RealWorldAssets#Tokenization#Blockchain#Crypto']…</p>— RWA Alert (@AboutRWAs) January 27, 2026</blockquote></div></div><p>Unlike their exchange-listed counterparts, these tokenised units do not have a secondary market; they can only be subscribed to or redeemed through eligible distributors in token form.</p><h2>Is The Physical Gold Secure</h2><p>Every unit of the ETF is backed by physical gold bars securely held within Hong Kong.</p><p>To ensure the integrity of the holdings, HSBC serves as the custodian through a wholly owned subsidiary, coordinating with specialised firms like Brink’s Hong Kong Limited and Hong Kong International Airport Precious Metals Storage Limited.</p><p>The fund carries a 0.25% annual management fee and a total recurring expenditure ratio of 0.4%, aiming for tight tracking of the benchmark despite a current deviation of -0.5%.</p><h2>Why Is Gold Hitting Record Highs</h2><p>The debut coincides with an unprecedented bull run for the safe-haven asset.</p><p>Gold prices surged 64% throughout 2025 and have already gained more than 16% in the first few weeks of 2026.</p><div><div><blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gold had its best year since 1979, up over 64% in 2025.https://t.co/rQuXrxVXM0pic.twitter.com/XVKDVballF</p>— Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) December 31, 2025</blockquote></div></div><p>This momentum is fueled by a mix of central bank hoarding, global geopolitical friction, and the metal's status as a hedge against inflation.</p><p>With the market reaching a historic zenith, asset managers are finding more creative ways to offer exposure to the precious metal.</p><div><div><blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gold (+64%) was the best performing major asset in 2025 while Bitcoin (-6%) was the worst. Something we haven't seen before in any calendar year (the inverse of 2013). $GLD$BTChttps://t.co/l5IYmkf6Ihpic.twitter.com/PKnoJifNOR</p>— Charlie Bilello (@charliebilello) January 1, 2026</blockquote></div></div><h2>How Does This Fit Hong Kong's Digital Goals</h2><p>This hybrid fund is a key piece of Hong Kong’s broader strategy to become a premier hub for virtual assets.</p><p>Speaking at Davos recently, Financial Secretary Paul Chan noted that the city has already licensed 11 virtual asset trading platforms and expects to launch a stablecoin licensing regime later this year.</p><div><div><blockquote><p dir="ltr" lang="en">News: Hong Kong's Finance Secretary Paul Chan announces first stablecoin licenses to be issued later this year, applying &#34;same activity, same risk, same regulation&#34; principle. Milestones include 11 licensed crypto exchanges &amp; ~$2.1B tokenized green bonds issued. #Web3…</p>— Starbase (@starbaseacc) January 25, 2026</blockquote></div></div><p>The dual-structure approach reflects the city's push to integrate traditional finance with blockchain technology.</p><p>By allowing traditional and crypto-native investors to access the same underlying gold through different rails, the city is bridging the gap between legacy finance and the digital future.</p></div></div></div>

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<p>Hong Kong's Hang Seng Gold ETF is set to launch on January 29, 2026, offering both traditional shares and tokenized units on the Ethereum blockchain. The ETF, trading under ticker, is designed to track the LBMA Morning Gold Price and is backed by physical gold bars held securely in Hong Kong. HSBC acts as the tokenization agent and custodian. This launch coincides with a significant rise in gold prices, which surged 64% in 2025, reflecting a broader trend of integrating traditional finance with blockchain technology in Hong Kong.</p>

- Hang Seng Investment Management is launching a physical gold ETF in Hong Kong on 29 January 2026, featuring both traditional shares and tokenized units on the blockchain.  
- The ETF, tracked by the LBMA Morning Gold Price, offers unique access to gold, with physical gold secured by HSBC and managed with a low annual fee.  
- This launch coincides with record-high gold prices and aligns with Hong Kong's strategy to integrate traditional finance with blockchain technology, enhancing its role as a virtual asset hub.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Gold ETF Goes Live 29 January 2026 With Ethereum-Based Token Units