Traceable Gold Under Scrutiny as Mint Halts Cartel-Linked Imports
The Royal Canadian Mint touts nearly full provenance tracking of its gold using a Bitcoin-like system called Bullion Genesis, but a New York Times investigation shows it still labels mixed North American gold—including Colombia cartel-linked material—without rigorous enhanced due diligence. A Texas intermediary blends Colombian and U.S. gold, allowing the Mint to brand the product as North American, a practice the OECD guidelines discourage. The Mint has stopped accepting Colombian gold pending a formal review and plans to publish origin lists, highlighting how tainted supply can slip into the legitimate market despite assurances.