It’s extremely common for a gold deposit to include significant amounts of other metals—both precious and otherwise—alongside the gold. Silver is one such metal that frequently occurs with gold and has a rich monetary tradition alongside its “big monetary brother.”

Silver has always played an important monetary role throughout history. Sometimes referred to as the “common man’s gold,” silver was historically used for more routine commercial transactions of a smaller nature, whereas gold fulfilled larger transactions. The true monetary history of the world is bimetallic: gold and silver.

One significant difference between gold and silver is that over time, the monetary utility of silver became overshadowed by industrial usage, which accounts for about 60% of its utility. Thus, its monetary utility is no longer its primary utility, whereas with gold, its store of wealth utility remains its primary function.

Because silver plays an important role in the global investment world, with as much as 40% of its demand for investment and store of wealth purposes, it is important to recognize their value. Therefore, in models like NatGold, certified silver resources are valued on their gold equivalent ratio basis. This means that the NI 43-101 certified silver resource is converted into its gold equivalent value within the same resource category; inferred, indicated, or measured resources.

It is important to note that NatGold’s legislative policies are focused on gold as the primary element of tokenization. The silver resources to which we are referring would be a by-product resource that occurs along with the primary certified gold resource.

The NatGold Public Accountability Vault, operated by OroEx Corp., is an innovative transparency initiative within the NatGold ecosystem. Designed as a fully visible and inspectable online resource, this public vault houses all key due diligence documents supporting the NatGold tokenization process. It serves as a cornerstone for accountability and public trust in the NatGold coin system. The vault includes digital copies of critical documents such as the mining title registered in the name of the NatGold Integrity Trust, NI 43-101 Technical Reports, and other important due diligence materials. These documents are made publicly available to ensure that any interested parties can inspect and verify the accuracy and authenticity of the information provided during the tokenization process.

Key features of the Public Vault include real-time data on the total number of NatGold coins minted, distribution statistics, and the verification that all minted coins are 100% backed by NI 43-101 certified gold resources. Utilizing the NatGold Bilateral Bridge between the NatGold Digital Vault and the NatGold Multichain, the vault updates an ecosystem audit every 24 hours. This audit verifies that the total amounts of NatGold coins in circulation on the NatGold MultiChain are equivalent to the amount historically distributed from the NatGold Digital Vault, enhancing security and trust in the system.

The primary goal of the NatGold Public Accountability Vault is to foster unparalleled transparency and trust across all aspects of the tokenization and distribution processes. By providing open access to critical documentation and real-time data, the system ensures that stakeholders can continually verify the integrity and backing of the NatGold coins. This open vault allows for ongoing public oversight, inviting users, investors, and regulators to engage directly with the operational and financial details of the NatGold ecosystem. It empowers them to conduct independent verifications, promoting an inclusive and transparent digital asset environment.

How is the baseline intrinsic value of NatGold calculated?

The baseline intrinsic value of NatGold is calculated using a global per ounce average profit comparative methodology developed by the International NatGold Council. This method assesses the profit potential of NatGold by comparing the global average cost of gold production, as indicated by the All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC), against the current market price of gold. This approach provides a robust framework for establishing the minimum intrinsic value of NatGold coins, emphasizing their potential profitability in the global market.

Calculating Production Costs: The All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) is used as a key metric in this comparison. AISC is a global weighted average calculated quarterly by the World Gold Council, based on the reported costs of each publicly reporting mining company for that period. This figure reflects the comprehensive cost faced by publicly reporting gold mining companies to mine, refine, and market one Troy ounce of gold.

Above Ground Market Price Reference: The market price used in this calculation is derived from the latest daily average price for a Troy ounce of gold, as reported by authoritative sources like the London Bullion Market Association and the NYMEX spot gold price.

Intrinsic Price Value Baseline: For example, employing a 90-day AISC of US$1,342 for Q4, 2023, and a hypothetical market price of US$2,200 per ounce, the intrinsic profitability is calculated by subtracting the most recent quarterly global weighted average AISC from the market price. In this instance, the average global profit would be $858 per ounce. This serves as the baseline intrinsic value of gold before the expenditure of US$1,342 to physically extract the gold via traditional mining methods.

NatGold’s approach diverges from traditional practices by focusing exclusively on digital mining certified gold resources in an ESG-friendly way. Essentially, the intrinsic baseline value of an ounce of NatGold is theoretically equal to the average per ounce profit realized by global gold producers, which is calculated by subtracting the average global cost of extraction from the prevailing market price of gold.

This positions NatGold as a sustainable crypto-commodity, capable of attracting a significant ESG premium, potentially even surpassing traditional gold’s market value as global sustainability awareness increases. This valuation transcends conventional production cost-profit analyses, advocating for NatGold’s price to be independently determined by its own merits as a sustainable and innovative financial asset.

Historically, the gold-silver ratio has been about 47:1 for most of the past century, but it has averaged around 60:1 over the past 20 years. In the last decade, this trend has widened, and it is not uncommon to see the ratio exceed 80:1. Most monetary metal analysts recognize that, due to the store of value nature of both gold and silver, when the ratio expands above 80:1, investors tend to sell their gold holdings to buy silver, and vice versa when the ratio falls below the 60:1 level.

For the NatGold tokenization model, the International NatGold Council has adopted a conservative approach by setting the gold-silver ratio at 90:1. This setting means that one ounce of certified gold resources is equivalent to 90 ounces of certified silver resources, regardless of the classification—whether inferred, indicated, or measured.

For example, if 90,000 ounces of NI 43-101 certified silver resources are present in the indicated resource category, the 90:1 gold-silver ratio set by the International NatGold Council would yield a 1,000-ounce certified gold equivalent in the indicated category. This enables the title owner to tokenize the 1,000 ounces of gold equivalent indicated resources according to the established exchange ratios used by OroEx Corp. when digitally mining the resources into NatGold coins.

Yes, NI 43-101 Technical Reports are often considered the “gold standard” within the international financial community for mineral project reporting. This reputation stems from their rigorous standards for transparency, accuracy, and detail in reporting mineral resources and reserves. Developed under the guidelines set by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), these reports require comprehensive disclosure and are overseen by qualified professionals who must adhere to strict ethical and professional standards.

The NI 43-101 Technical Report is the preferred choice for mining financiers worldwide when assessing potential funding for mining operations. As a result, NI 43-101 reports are uniquely recognized and accepted by all major global stock exchanges, further solidifying their status as the most widely trusted and authoritative source for certifying gold resources.

The higher degree of certainty and reliability associated with NI 43-101 reports, as compared to other international standards, ensures that investors, financiers, and other stakeholders have the most dependable information at their disposal when evaluating the potential of gold mining projects. This level of trust has established the NI 43-101 reports as the benchmark for gold resource reporting, thereby justifying their recognition as the “gold standard” in the industry and the only standard acceptable for tokenization into NatGold coins.