What is digital gold, really?
Digital gold lets you buy 24-karat gold in tiny amounts — from a single rupee — through apps like Paytm, PhonePe and Google Pay, all powered by a handful of vault operators. You own real metal; you just never hold it.
What you actually own
Pick a platform — Open Paytm, PhonePe or SafeGold — the gold is the same; the provider and spread differ.
Buy by amount or weight — Enter ₹100 or 0.1 g. The live price plus 3% GST is locked for a few minutes.
It's vaulted in your name — The provider stores insured 24K gold against your holding — no locker, no making charge.
Sell or take delivery — Sell back anytime at the live rate, or convert to coins with a small making charge.
Charges to expect
The number on screen isn't the whole cost. A buy/sell spread, 3% GST and eventual storage fees all apply.
| Cost | Typical |
|---|---|
| GST on purchase | 3% |
| Buy/sell spread | 2–6% |
| Storage after 5 yrs | 0.1–0.5%/yr |
| Coin making charge | ₹100+ per unit |
When it makes sense
Digital gold suits small, regular saving and gifting — festival buying, a wedding fund, a first step into gold. For larger, longer holdings, Sovereign Gold Bonds or a gold ETF usually cost less.
Key facts
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Trade the price
Want to trade gold's swings instead of owning metal? FxPro offers XAU/USD CFDs.
Open account →Common questions
Is digital gold safe?
The metal is insured and audited, but the platforms aren't regulated by SEBI or RBI as such. Stick to well-known providers and check who the vault operator is.
Is there a limit on how much I can buy?
Most apps cap unverified purchases at ₹2 lakh; full KYC raises it. There's usually no lower limit beyond ₹1.
How is it taxed when I sell?
Gains are taxed as capital gains based on your holding period, similar to physical gold. GST is only charged on the buy.
Trade gold's moves on FxPro
Digital gold is for owning. To trade XAU/USD price swings with leverage, open an FxPro account — tight spreads and fast withdrawals.
Trade gold on FxPro →