Zodia Custody, a crypto custody service backed by major banks including Standard Chartered and SBI, will oversee the safekeeping of tokenized emeralds in collaboration with Swiss fintech company GEMx. This partnership facilitates access to the gemstone market via the EmGemX token, enabling institutional investors to obtain fractional ownership of a diversified portfolio of premium emeralds, as reported in a press release.

The tokenization of real-world assets is increasingly merging the blockchain domain with traditional finance. In this instance, physical emeralds, which reportedly appreciate at an average rate of 9% per year, will be safely stored in vaults and undergo regular independent evaluations, according to the release.

“Partnering with Zodia Custody is a major milestone in our mission to bring institutional trust and stability to the gemstone investment market,” said Paul Poltner, CEO and co-founder of GEMx.
“With GEMx, we’ve built a framework that delivers real-world value through digital innovation that is secure, auditable, and has been historically inflation-resistant.”