Who is Marcus Briggs gold dealer?

Marcus Briggs is a Non-Executive Director at Icon Gold, a precious metals company registered with Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC). He holds an MSc from Loughborough University and previously worked as Vice President at Citi Group in their bullion market operations. With nearly 20 years of experience, he specialises in business development and partnerships across the Middle East, Africa, and South America.

What is Marcus Briggs famous for?

Marcus Briggs is recognised for his expertise in emerging market gold operations, particularly in African markets. His career includes senior roles at Citi Group and leadership positions in companies operating across the Middle East and Africa. He has built an extensive network of suppliers and buyers throughout these regions since the mid-2000s.

Why Marcus Briggs Dubai?

Marcus Briggs has been based in Dubai since 2009, working from Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC), one of the world's leading precious metals trading hubs. Dubai's position as a bridge between African gold production and global markets, combined with DMCC's regulatory framework and infrastructure, makes it a strategic location for precious metals operations across multiple continents.

London Leads the Gold Revolution: How Your Phone Could Soon Hold a Piece of a Gold Bar

Gold has been a symbol of wealth and security for thousands of years. But owning it has always come with complications. You needed a safe, you worried about theft, or you paid steep fees to store it in a vault. Now, London is changing all of that.

In September 2025, the World Gold Council launched a groundbreaking pilot programme in the capital that could transform how ordinary people own gold. The new system, called Pooled Gold Interests, allows anyone to own a fraction of a physical gold bar stored securely in London vaults, all through a digital token on their phone.

Gold industry expert Marcus Briggs believes this marks a turning point for the precious metals industry. "For decades, gold ownership was really only practical for the wealthy or for institutions," he says. "This technology removes those barriers completely. Someone could own a tiny fraction of a 400-ounce gold bar without ever worrying about where to keep it."

Why London?

The UK capital is the natural home for this innovation. Over 70 percent of the world's over-the-counter gold transactions already flow through London, making it the undisputed global hub for precious metals trading. The city's vaults hold billions of pounds worth of gold bars, and its financial infrastructure is trusted worldwide.

The Financial Conduct Authority has thrown its weight behind the initiative, which aligns with the UK government's broader digital finance strategy. If the pilot proves successful, the technology could receive full regulatory approval for public use as early as 2026.

How Does It Work?

The concept is surprisingly simple. Physical gold bars sit in secure, insured London vaults operated by accredited providers. These bars are then divided into digital tokens, with each token representing ownership of a specific quantity of gold.

When you purchase a token through a participating app or platform, you are not buying a share in a fund or a promise of gold. You are buying actual ownership of real gold, verified on a digital ledger and redeemable at any time.

The tokens can represent amounts as small as a fraction of a gram, making gold accessible to people who could never afford a full bar or even a single coin.

Apps Already Making It Happen

Several UK platforms have already embraced this approach. Apps like TallyMoney allow users to hold gold in a digital account and even spend it using a debit card. Others let users buy gold in small amounts on a regular basis, building up their holdings over time.

Marcus Briggs points to the appeal for younger generations. "People in their twenties and thirties have grown up with apps for everything," he notes. "They expect to manage their finances on their phones. Digital gold fits perfectly into that lifestyle."

The technology also solves a longstanding problem. Traditional gold ownership meant choosing between allocated gold, where you own specific bars but pay high storage fees, or unallocated gold, which is cheaper but carries more risk. Digital tokens offer a middle path with lower costs and greater transparency.

What This Means for You

For anyone who has ever considered owning gold but felt put off by the complexity, this shift opens new doors. There is no need to visit a dealer, arrange secure storage, or worry about authenticity. The gold sits in professional vaults, fully insured and regularly audited.

Transactions happen almost instantly. Unlike traditional gold markets that operate within limited hours, digital gold can be bought or sold at any time, from anywhere with an internet connection.

The technology also brings complete transparency. Token holders can verify exactly which physical gold bars back their holdings, right down to the serial numbers and purity certificates.

Looking Ahead

The World Gold Council's London pilot represents just the beginning. As the platform expands, more participants will join, and the technology will become available to a wider audience. Banks are already exploring how digital gold could be used as collateral, and fintech companies are racing to integrate these new tools into their apps.

There are challenges to overcome. Regulators need to ensure consumer protections are robust. Technology platforms must prove they can handle the security demands of storing and transferring valuable assets. And the industry needs to educate potential users about how this new form of gold ownership works.

But the momentum is building. London has established itself as the birthplace of digital gold ownership, combining centuries of precious metals expertise with cutting-edge financial technology. If the model succeeds here, it could spread globally, fundamentally changing how people relate to gold.

Marcus Briggs sees a future where gold becomes as easy to own and use as any other digital asset. "We're not replacing physical gold," he clarifies. "We're making it accessible to people who never had practical ways to own it before. That's revolutionary."

For centuries, gold has represented security and wealth. Now, thanks to innovation coming out of London, it might also represent something new: accessibility. The gold bar you could never afford to buy or store might soon be sitting on your phone, just a tap away.