The Hindu: SEBI has warned investors about digital gold (e-gold) because it is not regulated by any authority like SEBI, RBI, or IRDAI, even though real money is involved. Digital gold means buying real 24-carat gold online through apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, Amazon Pay, and sellers like MMTC-PAMP, SafeGold, and DigiGold. The gold is stored in vaults, insured, and buyers can start investing from as low as ₹100. Investors can sell anytime or even get physical delivery in coins or bars.

However, SEBI warned because there is no regulatory oversight, unclear price transparency, no proper grievance system, and many hidden charges—including 3% GST, vault and insurance fees (0.3 -- 0.4% yearly), delivery charges, and minting charges (3–11%) for physical gold. Though no fraud or default cases have been reported, investors should be cautious. Safer alternatives suggested are Gold ETFs, Gold Mutual Funds, and Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs), which are regulated, transparent, and backed by real gold.  

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