====== Pax Gold ======
Pax Gold (ticker: PAXG) is a unique type of [[cryptocurrency]] known as a commodity-backed [[stablecoin]]. Think of it as digital gold. Each PAXG token is a digital title to one fine troy ounce of a 400-ounce London Good Delivery gold bar, held in highly secure, professional vaults like those managed by [[Brink's]]. Unlike many other digital assets, PAXG isn't based on complex algorithms or market speculation; its value is directly tied to the real-time market price of physical gold. The company behind it, the [[Paxos Trust Company]], is a regulated financial institution chartered by the [[New York State Department of Financial Services]] (NYDFS). This means it's subject to strict oversight, including regular audits that verify the gold reserves match the number of tokens in circulation. In essence, PAXG aims to combine the millennia-old stability and value of gold with the speed, mobility, and divisibility of a modern digital asset.
===== How Does Pax Gold Work? =====
==== The Digital Gold Standard ====
Pax Gold operates on the [[Ethereum]] [[blockchain]] as an [[ERC-20]] token. When an investor buys PAXG from Paxos, the company allocates a corresponding amount of physical gold in its reserves and ‘mints’ (creates) new PAXG tokens. Conversely, when an investor redeems their tokens for physical gold or cash, the corresponding tokens are ‘burned’ (permanently destroyed). This dynamic process ensures that the total supply of PAXG in circulation is always 100% backed by an equivalent amount of physical gold. The beauty of the blockchain is its transparency; anyone can view the number of PAXG tokens on the public ledger and compare it to the audited attestations of gold reserves published by Paxos. This creates a verifiable and trustworthy system for owning gold digitally.
==== Redemption and Ownership ====
A crucial feature of PAXG is that you, the token holder, are the legal owner of the underlying gold. This is a significant distinction from many other forms of gold investment. Holders have several redemption options:
  * **Physical Gold:** You can redeem your tokens for physical gold bars through a network of gold retailers. Minimum redemption amounts apply, so this is typically for larger holdings.
  * **Unallocated Gold:** You can convert your PAXG into unallocated gold entitlements at a Loco London gold account, a standard in the professional bullion market.
  * **Fiat Currency:** The simplest option for many is to sell PAXG tokens on a crypto exchange or redeem them directly with Paxos for [[USD]] at the current market price of gold.
===== Pax Gold from a Value Investor's Perspective =====
==== The Pros - Modernizing Gold Ownership ====
For value investors who see gold as a long-term store of value and a hedge against inflation, PAXG offers some compelling advantages:
  * **Accessibility and Divisibility:** Buying a whole gold bar is expensive. PAXG allows you to own a tiny fraction of a bar, making it accessible to any budget. You can buy or sell small amounts 24/7 on global exchanges, offering liquidity that physical gold can't match.
  * **Cost-Effectiveness:** Storing physical gold securely involves costs for vaults, insurance, and transport. Paxos does not charge any custody or storage fees for holding PAXG. While you'll encounter small on-chain transaction fees ([[gas fees]]) and minor creation/redemption fees (typically under 1%), it's often cheaper than the all-in cost of owning physical bullion or paying the annual management fees of a gold [[ETF]].
  * **Transparency and Trust:** Being regulated by the NYDFS provides a level of trust that is rare in the crypto space. Regular, independent audits confirm that the gold is actually there, mitigating the fear of 'paper gold' that isn't fully backed.
==== The Cons and Risks to Consider ====
No investment is without risk, and a prudent investor must weigh the downsides:
  * **[[Counterparty Risk]]:** While regulated, you are still trusting the Paxos Trust Company to manage the reserves and operate honorably. The system's integrity depends on Paxos's solvency and operational security. If Paxos were to fail, recovering your asset could become a complex legal process, despite the bankruptcy-remote structure designed to protect customer assets.
  * **[[Smart Contract]] Risk:** PAXG is software running on a blockchain. Like any software, the [[smart contract]] that governs the token could potentially have vulnerabilities or bugs that could be exploited by hackers. While rigorously audited, this risk can never be eliminated entirely.
  * **[[Regulatory Risk]]:** The legal framework for digital assets is still a work in progress globally. Future government regulations on stablecoins or cryptocurrencies could impact PAXG's usability, transferability, or legal standing.
  * **It's Not in Your Hand:** For gold purists, the ultimate security is physical possession. With PAXG, you have digital ownership, which relies on technology and a third-party custodian. You can't just bury it in your backyard.
===== PAXG vs. Other Gold Investments =====
Understanding where PAXG fits requires comparing it to traditional alternatives.
==== PAXG vs. Physical Gold ====
PAXG is far easier to buy, sell, and divide. It eliminates storage and insurance headaches. However, physical gold offers absolute freedom from counterparty and technology risk—it's the ultimate off-grid asset.
==== PAXG vs. Gold ETFs (e.g., GLD) ====
The key difference is ownership. With PAXG, you directly own the gold. With most ETFs, like the popular [[GLD]], you own a share in a trust that owns the gold. This legal distinction can be important. Furthermore, PAXG has no management fee, whereas most gold ETFs charge an annual expense ratio (e.g., GLD charges 0.40%). For long-term holders, this cost difference can be significant.
==== PAXG vs. Gold Mining Stocks ====
This is a comparison of apples and oranges. PAXG is a direct holding of gold, intended to track the commodity's price precisely. Gold mining stocks are businesses. Their value is influenced not just by the price of gold, but also by their mining operations, debt levels, management competence, and geopolitical risks. Mining stocks offer potential for leveraged returns (if the gold price rises, their profits can rise much faster), but they come with substantially higher business-specific risks.