What is Digital Gold?
Now before we delve deep into how to invest in digital gold. Let's first understand the basics and see what digital gold is.
Gold has always been one of the most popular forms of investment for quite a long time. However, earlier, individuals were engaged in the investing and trading of physical gold. With physical gold, you need to have access to physical assets that can be felt and touched, like jewellery, gold bars, etc. However, the time has very much changed now. In this technologically advanced world, investors are now able to invest in digital gold. Here, everything is at your fingertips. You can buy or trade your digital gold via online platforms. You need not have to physically hold these assets, but you enjoy their liquidity, value, and convenience.
Now that you know what digital gold is, let's move ahead. Let's see what makes it an attractive option and if it is something you should consider investing in.
Benefits of Investing in Digital Gold
As mentioned, investing in gold has been a long-followed tradition for several households in India. But does investing in digital gold make equal sense? Is it beneficial and if yes, how so? What are the benefits you may expect when investing in digital gold?
Here is a list of some of those common benefits, have a look.
With physical gold, it might be a hassle to buy or sell your assets, as it requires finding dealers and more. However, that isn't the case with digital gold. You can easily sell the same at any time. Making a transaction using digital gold investments is much easier and more transparent. Plus, they offer better liquidity, meaning they can be converted to cash whenever needed. Not to forget, you have these investments accessible to you at all times without the need to physically hold them. Thus, you have better control over your investments.
Industry professionals also feel and suggest that investing in digital gold can be a good way to start where you don't need to have a large chunk of money to even begin. With digital gold, you can be involved in the sale and purchase of these assets, even in smaller amounts, at any time and any place. Thus, giving better convenience and flexibility to investors willing to start small. Further, digital gold investments are also preferred because of their safety aspect. Here, you don't need any lockers or security storage for the same. Instead, digital gold is stored in the security vault with regular audits attesting to their safety.
As mentioned, with digital gold investments, you can start with smaller amounts, too. In addition to that, there are several cost benefits attached to digital gold. First, you save big on storage costs. Additionally, you also avoid other charges like making expenses, insurance costs, etc.
Digital gold can be easily bought and sold after assessing the market prices. As mentioned, digital gold offers better transparency with simple and easy-to-make transactions. You may easily track the price online when you want to invest, thus making the whole investment more transparent and convenient for all investors.
Additional Read: What is Demat Account: Importance, Features and Types
Steps to Start Investing in Digital Gold
Now that you know the benefits of investing in digital gold, let's move ahead and see how to do the same. How to invest in digital gold? Well, several ways may help you invest. Here is a quick list of the available ways:
Gold ETFs are one of the most simple forms of investment. You may easily buy and sell them on the stock exchanges. With gold ETFs, you are supposed to buy a minimum of 1 unit to start trading. You can also invest in these ETFs via systematic Investment plans or SIPs.
These are types of investments where you invest in gold-related instruments. This also involves tracking the price of gold. Further, there may be management and other charges involved.
Launched by the Government of India in 2015, Sovereign Gold Bonds are monitored and controlled by the RBI. These bonds serve as an alternative option for investors eliminating the need to hold physical gold.
Similar to other future contracts, Gold Future Contracts also come with obligations where investors are supposed to buy or sell a particular quantity at a fixed price in the future.
Storage and Security of Digital Gold Investments
One of the best things about digital gold investments is its digital storage. They are stored in a secure vault by the seller on behalf of an investor. Such storage also helps eliminate the hassle that comes with the storage issues of the physical gold. The vaults used for the storage of digital gold are highly secure and are managed and undergo regular audits from reputed institutions.
This ensures that you can easily secure your gold investments from physical theft or loss. Additionally, reputable and renowned gold platforms add an extra layer of security to your investments by adding control of financial authorities. The regulatory eye ensures everything goes according to industry rules and standards.
Selling Digital Gold: How and When to Exit?
Any kind of market investment is not completely free of market risks and fluctuations. And digital gold is no different. Its value may fluctuate with the physical gold's price. Based on price changes and a few other factors, you may sell your digital gold at any time.
To exit your digital gold investments, you are offered two choices: you either choose the delivery of physical gold or you may sell your digital gold for cash.
When you choose doorstep delivery of physical gold, you just pay the making costs and get gold bars delivered to you for free. The other option is selling digital gold for cash. Here, you simply need to log in to your account, choose the amount you're willing to sell, and be done. You will easily receive the funds in your account.
However, before you exit your investments or make a selling decision for your digital gold investments, it is important to consider a few things. For example, understand the minimum quantity you can sell, read more on the ongoing selling price, negotiate prices, and see what payment settlements you're offered. This helps you choose where you would like your funds to be deposited after the sale.
Taxation and Regulations on Digital Gold Investments
As one of the trendy forms of investments these days, digital gold investment enjoys huge popularity. However, it is important to understand that they are very similar to physical gold when talking about taxation on digital gold gains.
Buying digital gold attracts tax regulations as per the income tax rules for gold purchases.
For selling digital gold investments, investors are required to comply with tax regulations of 20.8%.
For returns from digital gold, they are first classified into long-term capital gains and short-term capital gains. Long-term capital gains are held for 36 months and above. Alternatively, short-term capital gains are those which are held for a shorter time, which is less than 36 months.
For long-term capital gains, you are required to pay 20% tax on returns, plus the surcharge and 4% cess.
For short-term capital gains, you are not charged directly. However, you are taxed based on your income slab.
It is important to understand that there is no specific regulation or rule on sales and purchases of digital gold. However, it is a must to adhere to certain rules like KYC and other RBI regulations. So, before you start investing in digital gold, make sure you carefully read and follow these regulations.
Is Digital Gold a Good Investment: Pros and Cons
As mentioned earlier, digital gold investments are enjoying quite some popularity. There are several reasons behind the same. Starting from its safe and secure storage to easy transactions, transparency and much more, digital gold has become an attractive investment option. But is it a good choice? Well, that depends a lot on your personal choice. However, once you understand what digital gold is, and the pros and cons of this investment, you may be able to make an informed decision.
Some of the popular pros of digital gold investments are related to its easy accessibility, secure storage where you have peace of mind, ability to start even small with no cap on lower limits, plus the purity remains uncompromised. However, there are also some risks attached to digital gold investments. This includes the absence of a governing authority which may expose customers to risks like business inconsistencies and more. Factors like rentals and more may also impose a storage limit on your digital investments.
Thus, before you finalize your investment decisions, it is important to plan carefully, compare the pros and cons, and then decide accordingly.
Conclusion
Digital gold is a popular investment choice, allowing investors to easily buy, sell, and convert their assets. They offer a variety of advantages like convenience, accessibility, transparency, and much more that makes them worth investing in. However, there are some risks, like the absence of governing authority, that are worth reading before making an investment choice. With digital gold investments, you may consider buying a reputable platform, starting small, and diversifying your portfolio for better benefits.
Happy Investing!
Disclaimer: Investments in the securities market are subject to market risk, read all related documents carefully before investing.
This content is for educational purposes only. Securities quoted are exemplary and not recommendatory.
For All Disclaimers Click Here: https://bit.ly/3Tcsfuc