How Does Chainlink Verify That Tokenized Gold Is Backed by Real Gold?

Chainlink's Proof of Reserve (PoR) technology is transforming the transparency of tokenized gold by providing real-time, on-chain verification of physical assets held in off-chain vaults. By connecting smart contracts to custodian records and vault inventory systems, the protocol ensures that the circulating supply of tokens matches the underlying gold reserves. This mechanism allows for automated safeguards, such as the Secure Mint feature, which can prevent the creation of unbacked tokens if reserve levels fall below the required threshold. Notable implementations include PAX Gold, which has utilized PoR since 2021, and the more recent launch of the GLDY stablecoin by Streamex in February 2026. While the tokenized gold sector has reached a market valuation of approximately $4.8 billion as of July 2026, the reliance on issuer-reported data remains a critical consideration. Although PoR provides superior timing compared to traditional periodic audits, it does not independently verify the physical existence or purity of the gold bars. Consequently, the industry continues to rely on a combination of on-chain feeds and external third-party attestations to maintain investor trust. This integration of blockchain-based verification represents a significant shift toward continuous, rather than retrospective, asset oversight in the RWA market.