Launching SoonAllocated physical goldStored with Loomis in Dubai
eona

LEARN

Knowledge Base

Back to Knowledge Base

Guide to Gold

Glossary of Key Terms

Understanding key terms helps when buying allocated precious metals. This glossary explains the most important concepts you’ll see on the EONA platform — from vaulting to spreads.

Allocated Metals

Definition: Precious metals (gold and silver at EONA) recorded against specific bars, rather than a general claim on a pool.
Why it matters: Your holding is recorded against specific bars with serial numbers (or a recorded share of them). This contrasts with “unallocated” metal, where you hold a general claim on the provider.

Spot Price

Definition: The current market price of a metal for immediate settlement, typically quoted per troy ounce.
How it's used: EONA’s prices are based on the international spot price from a professional market-data provider, refreshed approximately every 10 to 15 minutes, plus a premium. The price that applies is the one shown on the platform when you confirm your order.

Spread and Commission

Definition: The spread is the difference between the spot price and the price you pay or receive. Commission is a separate fee on each transaction.
 At EONA: Prices include a premium to the spot price when you buy and a discount when you sell, and a commission applies to each purchase and sale. See our Fees & Spread page.
 Why it matters: Published rates mean you know how your price is built before you buy.

Vault

Definition: A high-security facility where metal is stored.
 Location: Dubai, with Loomis. Zurich and Singapore are planned locations (coming soon) and are not currently available.
 Storage fee: 0.50% per year for gold and 1.00% per year for silver, plus 5% VAT.

Withdrawal

Definition: Taking physical delivery or collection of metal from the vault.
 At EONA: Not currently offered. You realise the value of your metal by selling it back to EONA, with proceeds paid to your verified bank account.

KYC (Know Your Customer)

Definition: A compliance process to verify your identity before you can buy or sell.
 Purpose: Ensures legal compliance, prevents fraud, and protects your account.
 At EONA: Required under UAE AML rules; often quick, but some cases need manual review.

Custody Risk

Definition: The risk that your metal is lost, not properly recorded or not accessible.
 How EONA mitigates this: By recording your holding against specific bars, keeping client metal separate from its own assets, and using an independent vault operator (Loomis) with independent stock checks.

Real Ownership

Definition: Ownership of specific, identifiable physical metal — not a paper claim.
 How EONA enables it: Your holding is recorded against specific bar serial numbers, visible in your account.

Vault Insurance

Definition: Insurance maintained by a vault operator for its own business.
 At EONA: The vault operator, Loomis, maintains insurance under its own policy. EONA does not promise that it covers you or your metal directly or in full.

Common questions

  • Allocated metal is recorded against specific bars. Unallocated metal is held by the provider and shared across many clients — you hold a promise, not specific bars.

Next in Guide to Gold

Vault Storage and Insurance

Ready to own allocated metal?

Open an account in minutes — or keep reading the essentials.