The notice arrived after SEBI, the capital markets regulators averred that certain members are providing a platform to their clients for buying and selling digital gold. Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), through a letter dated August 3, informed the exchange that the said activity is in contravention of Securities Contracts (Regulation) Rules (SCRR), 1957, and the members should refrain from undertaking any such activities.
“Members, currently engaging in the activity, shall cease to undertake all activities in this regard, within one month from the date of this circular during which necessary communications, regarding the discontinuation, shall be made to the respective clients,” NSE said in a circular issued at August 10.
TradeSmart Chairman Vijay Singhania said digital gold units are not issued by any regulated entity. There is no specified parameter to check the purity of the digital gold certificate when mixed with physical gold. Jeweller firms such as Titan and banks were recognised for selling digital gold. Digital gold is not included under the definition of securities as stated by the Securities Contract (Regulations) Act 1956.
“The circular prohibits the dealing/offering digital gold-selling via Sebi registered entities, as it is not a security as mentioned above. It may be continued to be sold by the unregulated entities, subject to RBI directions if any,” Singhania said. Kishore Narne, Head of Commodities & Currencies, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, said, “We were distributors of the digital gold product of MMTC-PAMP, with the backdrop of exchange issuing the directives for such product to be not sold by all stockbrokers of the stock exchange; we shall be discontinuing distribution of this product”.
