Kinesis expands to Indonesia: gold-backed currency allows citizens to make payments and generate returns

  • Blockchain , Payments
  • 24.07.2019 09:53 am

Kinesis Money – creators of a robust blockchain-based currency the value of which is tied 1:1 to underlying physical gold and silver holdings – has achieved a major step forward in its vision to offer a superior alternative to mainstream central bank-mediated fiat monetary system.

Thanks to close collaboration and partnerships with a number of key regional organisations – including the Indonesian government, regulator, the state-owned post office and the Jakarta Futures Exchange – Kinesis is now commencing the launch sequence of its offering into the under-banked Indonesian market on a large scale.

What is Kinesis’ monetary system?

The currency is designed to combine the flexibility and convenience of modern digital systems with the older ‘gold standard’ principle. Each unit of the currency corresponds 1:1 with real gold and silver assets, and users are able to physically redeem their holdings whenever they so wish. At the same time, it is designed to be as easy to spend and use as any debit card tied to a traditional modern bank deposit account, including for smaller transactions and micropayments.

The direct connection to two of the most stable and reliable stores of value in the world – gold and silver – gives the currency a major advantage over similarly blockchain-based ‘crypto-currencies’, which are notoriously volatile. High processing speeds and percentage-based transaction fees, connected to real-world payment infrastructure, ensure its suitability for everyday real-world use as a currency, as opposed to a vehicle for financial speculation. Separately, the currency provides a means for investors to directly invest in precious metals in a way that generates a return, as opposed to merely incurring a storage cost.

The need for such a currency is particularly acute in a country such as Indonesia. Although the country holds tremendous economic potential, particularly in relation to its young and burgeoning middle-class, two thirds of its 260 million citizens don’t have a bank account. On the other hand, gold is a major part of the nation’s savings culture, and is regarded as a legal investment under Sharia law (Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world). Kinesis’ monetary solution is well-tailored to these circumstances.

Thomas Coughlin, CEO at Kinesis Money comments: Blockchain-based currency is a fantastic idea with many potential applications, but so far this potential has been squandered, generating more heat than light. The panoply of so-called cryptocurrencies that have come to market in recent years are extremely volatile, rarely based on any underlying assets, and very difficult to use for ordinary transactions, and hence have become objects of frenzied speculation rather than anything lasting and useful.

“By constrast, Kinesis’ system, in tying its value directly to physically-held quantities of gold and silver, and thus in a sense resurrecting the gold standard, can provide a more stable and reliable source of value than even many mainstream central bank-backed currencies, while retaining all the convenience of use. Our expansion into the Indonesian market shows how far this is from a pipe dream or blue-sky concept – major, prestigious institutions across Indonesia have bought into the vision, and use of the new monetary system will soon be a fact of everyday life for millions of ordinary Indonesian citizens.

“The application in Indonesia is a perfect example of how the system can be used to drive financial inclusion within historically under-banked regions and countries that nonetheless have a high level of mobile technology adoption. However, the advantages are global. In an increasingly volatile global economic environment we believe the prospect of a convenient gold-and-silver-backed-currency that simultaneously provides a way to invest in these precious metals for a return will look increasingly attractive. We look forward to further expansion in the future.

What does the Indonesian launch entail?

In order to create the right conditions for launch and develop the necessary infrastructure to make the digital gold currency a success, Kinesis has worked in close collaboration with key stakeholders including the Indonesian government, and has partnered with a number of major national organisations for delivery:

·       Kinesis worked closely with the Indonesian government and financial regulator to foster the regulatory environment required to allow for the implementation of Kinesis’ monetary system, culminating in new rules regarding physical gold trading in February 2019.

·       The new rules state that any technology for online or exchange-based physical gold trading products must be deliverable and physically located within Indonesia. To this end, Kinesis has agreed, together with OZL (part of the Liechtenstein Precious Metals Group) and the state-owned post office PT POS Indonesia to build, develop and operate Indonesia’s first purpose-built bullion vault, according to international best-in-class standards.

·       Kinesis has partnered with Allocated Bullion Exchange (ABX) and the national commodities exchange – Jakarta Futures Exchange (JFX) to establish the spot Jakarta Sharia Gold (JSG) contracts to enable the physical trading, vaulting, vault management and logistics of Sharia Compliant physical bullion. PT Kliring Berjangka Indonesia (KBI), Indonesia’s state-owned commodity clearing house, will have oversight responsibilities; Kinesis as the Indonesia vault facility provider, when operational and ABX and PT POS as physical bullion agent and logistics provider.

·       In terms of distribution and enabling widespread usage, Kinesis has partnered with PT Bullion Ecosystem International (BEI), a leading Indonesian e-commerce and financial technology company which provides mobile applications for gold trading, collateral gold finance and Sharia gold financing. BEI’s technology will allow for delivery of white-labelled Kinesis products into the hands of millions.

·       Kinesis partner BEI has an exclusive agreement with Indonesia’s state-owned postal office company, PT POS to provide multiple gold and collateral financing mobile applications. With a reliable and comprehensive distribution system across Indonesia covering over 58,700 point-of-sale service points, PT POS, the world’s third largest postal service, offers a wide range of financial services and is Indonesia’s largest non-bank financial institution, serving an active customer base of 10 million and facilitating over US$10 billion in cross-border remittances alone annually. PT POS to integrate the Kinesis Monetary System, together with BEI, to permit Kinesis digital gold (KAU) as an accepted method for sending and receiving cross-border value  for its customers, including migrant workers.

·       In order to further promote uptake, Kinesis has partnered with the Nobel-prize-nominated Muslim organisation Nahdlatul Ulamsa (NU), which has agreed to support Kinesis products as a Shariah-compliant option for its members. With over 100 million active members, NU will act as an investor base, facing millions of downstream users.

Gilarsi Setijono, President Director at PT POS Indonesia comments “Gold is a very important investment and savings asset class in Indonesia across all segments of society and the first and only purpose-built vault facility will give significant access and confidence to the market. This vault project together with Kinesis and OZL, as well as other government-related gold savings initiatives, will be of long-term benefit to Indonesia and Indonesian citizens.”

Stephanus Paulus Lumintang, President Director at Jakarta Futures Exchange, comments: "JFX is committed to providing the best solutions and services in the futures and derivatives industry.

“It's increasingly become clear to us that the benefits of distributed ledger technology, or 'blockchain' will unlock tremendous amounts of value for Indonesia and Indonesian people.

"Blockchain regulation in Indonesia is currently in progress, and it is quite an important, yet difficult task. However, JFX is ready to be a blockchain exchange company in Indonesia, in compliance with any legal and regulatory requirements.

"Our future partnership with Kinesis and ABX will enable us to not only tap into these advantages but to create a secure and transparent blockchain network that provides a credible alternative to existing systems of exchange."

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