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VaultChain™ Gold & Silver

Find more information below on a way to own digital gold and digital silver using modern blockchain technology. 

  1. What is VaultChain™ and how does it work?

    VaultChain™ allows you to buy and sell gold & silver digitally.

    Your holdings are held physically at the Royal Canadian Mint, and the transaction is completed using a blockchain distributed ledger for data accuracy, real time tracking and auditability.

    What is blockchain technology?

    The VaultChain™ blockchain creates an immutable record of transactions and account balances using cryptography, meaning the records are tamper-proof through time. Transactions must be cryptographically signed by platform participants to prove their authenticity, including registration of investment grade physical gold and silver that underlies the platform, which must be cryptographically signed by the Royal Canadian Mint.

    Tradewind and the partners it appoints are responsible for adding your gold and silver holdings to the blockchain.

    What is the Tradewind platform?

    The Tradewind Platform is an electronic market and blockchain technology solution that connects market participants and enables them to deal in VaultChain™ Gold and VaultChain™ Silver.

    How do I trade VaultChain™

    Open your account and trade online 24/7 using our online store, or contact our customer service team to set up an account and place your order. Our customer service team is available from Monday to Thursday, 8:30am - 10:00pm Eastern Time, and Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET, at 1-877-775-4826.

    Once your price is locked in, send Kitco your payment. Once payment has cleared, your VaultChain™ ounces will be transferred to your account using blockchain technology to confirm and store the transaction. Your holdings are trackable via the distributed ledger, which you have access to 24/7.

    How long will my transaction take to settle?

    When you conduct a VaultChain™ transaction, it is processed via a blockchain, requiring three business days to settle.

    • When you make a purchase through VaultChain™, the process begins with the receipt and clearance of your payment, followed by a three-business-day period required for blockchain processing. This sequence ensures that your transaction is securely recorded before it appears in the ledger.
    • When selling, the transaction undergoes a three-business-day blockchain processing phase first. Only after this period can the payment initiation process commence.

    Are there any fees involved?

    With Kitco VaultChain™  you will be able to enjoy unlimited transactions, holdings, and storage for ONE LOW ANNUAL FEE OF $100 (+ tax). That all-inclusive fee covers you for an entire year of buying and selling digital metals online 24/7, without any hidden charges. 

    The all-inclusive annual fee is paid by accounts that contain digital assets in either gold and/or silver. The fee is prorated for new accounts, and is charged at the moment of making your first transaction. This means:

    • If your first transaction is done from January to March, a $100 fee is applicable*
    • If your first transaction is done from April to June, a $75 fee is applicable*
    • If your first transaction is done from July to September, a $50 fee is applicable*
    • If your first transaction is done from October to December, a $25 fee is applicable*

    After your first transaction, active accounts with gold and/or silver holdings are then charged the full annual fee every January 1st.

    *Plus Tax. As Kitco is based in Quebec, applicable Quebec sales tax (GST & PST) applies. For details, see our Terms and Conditions

    How do I view my VaultChain™ holdings?

    You may view your VaultChain™ holdings by logging into your Kitco account where you will have access to your Tradewind distributed ledger dashboard. Your dashboard contains information regarding pending and settled transactions, as well as your VaultChain™ Gold and VaultChain™ Silver balances.

    How can I pay for Vaultchain Gold or Silver?

    Many of Kitco’s regular methods of payment are accepted for VaultChain™ Gold and VaultChain™  Silver transactions. VaultChain™ transactions cannot be paid using PayPal or credit card.

    How can I receive payment for selling Vaultchain Gold or Silver?

    Depending on your country of residence (or the location of your principal place of business), you may choose to be paid by any of the following methods:

    Method of payment

    U.S. and Canadian customers

    Customers from other countries

    Service fee

    Check sent by regular mail*

    ×

    None

    Check sent by courier*

    ×

    $30

    USD or CAD bank wire sent to a bank in the USA or Canada†

    $40

    USD or CAD bank wire sent to a bank outside the USA and Canada††

    $60

    GBP or EUR bank wire‡

    £50/€60

    Bullion products normally carried by Kitco

    None

    Credit to the funds on your account

    None

    Credit to your Kitco Pool account

    None

    *Checks can only be sent for USD or CAD payments to US/Canadian residents.

    USA and Canada - For US residents sending a wire to a Canadian bank or Canadian residents sending a wire to a US bank, international wire fees will apply as funds are being sent out of the residing country. 

    Canada - In order to be compliant with new local regulations, all wire payments sent to Canada must include the full address of the beneficiary.  An address with a PO Box will not be accepted.  Payments may be delayed or rejected by the intermediary or beneficiary bank due to insufficient information.

    ††For USD or CAD bank wires sent to banks outside the USA and Canada, Kitco will pay all intermediary bank fees.

    ‡Payments in GBP or EUR can only be made by bank wire or credited to funds on account.

    How long will it take for me to receive my payment?

    When you complete a transaction using VaultChain™, it is processed through a blockchain and takes three business days to settle. Once the transaction has settled, Kitco usually processes your payment within 24 to 48 hours. Depending on the payment method you choose, it may take up to 15 business days for you to receive your payment. Note that processing times can be delayed due to USA or Canadian statutory holidays, exceptionally high market activity, very high-value sales, or unforeseeable circumstances such as transport strikes or natural disasters.

    Method of Payment

    Time Frame to Receive

    Check sent by regular mail

    10-15 business days

    Check sent by courier

    2-3 business days

    Domestic Bank Wires

    1-2 business days

    International Bank Wires

    2-5 business days

    Is there a maximum or minimum?

    VaultChain™ Gold is available in as little as 0.001 oz of gold. and VaultChain™ Silver is available in as little as 0.01 oz of silver.

    Upon placing your first VaultChain™ Silver transaction, a minimum of 100 oz must be purchased. Subsequent VaultChain™ transactions in gold or silver can be in any amount of ounces.

    Can I trade physical gold or silver for my VaultChain™ holdings?

    Yes, Kitco is able to trade in your physical gold or silver to VaultChain™ Gold or VaultChain™ Silver holdings after testing and verification of your metals. 

    You may also exchange your VaultChain™ ounces for precious metal bullion products that Kitco has available in stock. Note that you will be charged fabrication, shipping, and insurance costs when you convert VaultChain™ holdings for precious metal bullion products through Kitco.

    Are my VaultChain™ holdings audited?

    The Royal Canadian Mint is a Crown Corporation therefore does audits through the Attorney General. Their holdings, including those held in trust of VaultChain™ Gold and VaultChain™ Silver customers, are on public record.

    What is the difference between VaultChain™ gold or silver and a gold or silver ETF?

    Each unit of an ETF represents ownership in a fund or trust that, in turn, holds physical gold or silver with a bank or other depository. The fund, or trust, charges owners an annual fee to cover various costs. Final beneficial owners do not control the underlying asset and cannot take physical delivery. VaultChain™ Gold and VaultChain™ Silver is physical gold and silver owned directly via a blockchain database; there is no intermediary trust or fund, and it is deliverable in full.

    What is Kitco VaultChain™️ Institutional?

    VaultChain™ for institutions, is Kitco’s new offering for a wide range of financial institutions. It allows your customers to easily trade gold and silver using blockchain technology and benefit from low transaction costs, fast settlement times and ability to convert to physical bullion at any time. Learn more at Kitco Digital Metals.

Kitco Metals Inc. BBB Business Review
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