Otago Gold is a ground-breaking NFT platform that blends the heritage of gold prospecting and mining with blockchain technology. Inspired by the historic gold rush in Otago, New Zealand, Otago Gold introduces a modern way to own, trade, and interact with digital gold through the ownership of the Otago Gold NFTs.

The Otago Gold NFT project presents a unique opportunity with NFTs backed by real-world assets, offering token holders exclusive benefits, including:

• Access to Historic Gold Prospecting Areas: All Otago Gold token holders can access historical gold-rich areas owned by the project, where they can prospect for gold and keep what they find.
• PAX Gold Airdrops: Token holders will receive PAX Gold airdrops based on the actual amount of gold mined by Otago Gold from its larger projects.
• Exclusive Tours and Celebrity Experiences: Token holders can participate in gold mining tours led by industry celebrities, and feature in Otago Gold’s YouTube content.

Co-founded by Stephen Robinson and Christopher Pritchard, who collectively bring over 50 years of practical gold mining experience from Australia and New Zealand respectively. Coupled with extensive corporate business experience from founding and growing their own companies in media and hospitality.

Otago Gold bridges the worlds of traditional gold mining and blockchain. This unique fusion offers users the opportunity to engage with NFTs backed by real-world value, and to participate in a historical yet forward-thinking project.

• Historical and Tangible Value: Otago Gold NFTs offer a direct connection to historical gold prospecting sites in New Zealand, providing digital assets with real-world value.
• Eco-Friendly Blockchain: The platform operates on a PoS (Proof-of-Stake) blockchain to reduce its environmental impact.
• Cross-Chain Compatibility: NFTs on Otago Gold can be transferred across multiple blockchains where it’s supported by Opensea - increasing liquidity and accessibility.
• Exclusive Experiences: Token holders gain access to exclusive experiences, including prospecting in real gold mining areas, participating in celebrity-led mining tours, and engaging in unique content created by our brand ambassadors.

Several challenges currently exist within the NFT market:

• Limited Real-World Connection: NFTs are often disconnected from tangible value, or real-world assets.
• Complex User Experience: Many NFT platforms are overly complicated, deterring average users who are unfamiliar with crypto and blockchain.
• Environmental Concerns: PoW (Proof-of-Work) blockchains have significant environmental impacts, raising sustainability concerns.

These challenges, whether real or perceived, hinder broader adoption, and limit the ability of creators and users to fully leverage the potential of the NFT ecosystem.

Otago Gold addresses these challenges by creating an NFT ecosystem grounded in real-world assets and blockchain technology:

• Asset-Backed NFTs: Otago Gold NFTs are connected to real-world gold prospecting and mining operations, making them more than just digital art.
• User-Friendly Interface: The project will be based on the Opensea exchange and will run on the Ethereum blockchain. The Opensea platform is designed for ease of use, and is committed to adhering to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations to prevent illicit activities on its platform. It is an industry accepted exchange allowing anyone, regardless of blockchain expertise, to acquire, trade, and interact with Otago Gold NFTs.
• Low-Energy / Carbon Transactions:  Built on a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchain, Otago Gold significantly reduces energy consumption and the project’s carbon footprint.

By combining the traditional value of gold with modern blockchain technology, Otago Gold makes NFTs accessible, affordable, and environmentally conscious.

Otago Gold provides a wide range of benefits to token holders, making the project more than just a digital asset platform:

• Access to Gold Prospecting Areas: Token holders can visit Otago Gold’s own historical gold mining sites, where they can prospect for gold and keep what they find.
• Airdrops of Mined Gold: Token holders will periodically receive PAX Gold airdrops, distributed from Otago Gold’s large-scale projects. Seamlessly connecting digital assets with physical value.
• Exclusive Tours and Celebrity Interactions: Token holders can participate in guided mining tours with gold mining celebrities, and feature in Otago Gold’s YouTube content at various locations around the world.

These benefits make Otago Gold a project with real-world rewards, unlike many traditional NFT projects that focus only on digital art or gaming experiences.

Blockchain Platform: Ethereum.

Otago Gold operates on a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchain, providing fast and energy-efficient transactions while minimizing the environmental impact.

Smart Contracts:

Smart contracts oversee all aspects of NFT minting, royalty distribution, and marketplace transactions - delivering transparency, security, and seamless automation

Security:

Otago Gold utilises decentralised storage networks such as IPFS to secure digital assets, ensuring that NFTs and metadata are tamper-proof and censorship-resistant.

Cross-Chain Compatibility:

Otago Gold plans to support cross-chain NFT functionality, meaning assets can be traded across different blockchains for increased liquidity.

The native membership token of Otago Gold, OGT (Otago Gold Token), serves as the utility token for the ecosystem, enabling users to transact, and participate in tours and other activities.

Four-Tier Token System:

Otago Gold introduces a four-tier token system, allowing participants to choose from different levels of participation, each with distinct benefits and levels of PAX Gold airdrops.

Tier 1 Tokens:    Number Available: 10

• Benefits: Token holders receive the highest PAX Gold airdrops, exclusive access to the Arrow River and Shotover River prospecting permits (as well as other areas we may partner with), and direct interactions with mining celebrities in various countries.
• Target Audience: Investors seeking the highest PAX Gold airdrops and the potential for active involvement in the project.

Tier 2 Tokens:     Number Available: 250

• Benefits: Regular PAX Gold airdrops, access to the Arrow River and Shotover River prospecting permits, and participation in special events.
• Target Audience: Enthusiasts seeking regular PAX Gold airdrops and a high level of engagement in Otago Gold.

Tier 3 Tokens:     Number Available: 500

• Benefits: PAX Gold airdrops albeit less than upper-tier tokens, along with access to the Arrow River and Shotover River prospecting permits. Tier 3 retains most of the utility benefits provided by higher tiers.
• Target Audience: Participants interested in engaging with the project without a large upfront expenditure.

Tier 4 Tokens:     Number Available: 1,000

• Benefits: Smaller yet consistent PAX Gold airdrops and access to the Arrow River and Shotover River prospecting permits. Designed for smaller crypto holders who want to be a part of the Otago Gold experience.
• Target Audience: Interested amateurs and gold mining enthusiasts.

Gold Distributions:

Only 50% of the available 1760 tokens minted will be made available to token holders. The other 50% will be held by the project creators and will form the basis of their remuneration.

Each troy ounce of gold that is mined, after operating expenses have been deducted, will be distributed to token holders on the following basis:

25% divided equally to each of the 10 individual Tier 1 token holders.

25% divided equally to each of the 250 individual Tier 2 token holders.

25% divided equally to the 500 individual Tier 3 token holders.

25% divided equally to the 1000 individual Tier 4 token holders.

There will be no limit on the number of tokens that can be held by any one holder.

Holding multiple tokens will entitle the holder to that token’s distribution irrespective of the total number of tokens they hold.

In addition, there may be the potential to redeem part or all of the token’s value, as a credit towards one of Otago Gold’s tour packages.

In the event that any token is not held by an external token holder or are not part of the pool allocated to either of the project's creators. These tokens shall be known as non-allocated tokens.

Non-allocated tokens will still be entitled to any PAX Gold airdrops or other distributions as it would be if it was an allocated token.

The airdrops attached to each non-allocated token shall be retained by the project for the betterment of the project and all token holders.

If a non-allocated token becomes allocated at any time then the token holder must wait not less than 90 days before becoming eligible for any PAX Gold airdrops or any other distributions.

The token holder of a previously non allocated token shall not be entitled to any previous distributions allocated to that token or tokens.  

Phase 1: Platform Launch

• Pre-Token Offering (PTO) – October to December 2024
• Launch of NFT minting and marketplace – late December 2024
• Tours and field trips - Celebrity mining partnerships with tours and mining experts – late 2025

Phase 2: Ecosystem Expansion

• Cross-chain NFT functionality – TBA
• Introduction of staking and rewards – TBA
• Fractional ownership feature for the NFTs – TBA

Phase 3: Community Engagement

Invitations to selected token holders to attend hosted events E.g. Token 2049 or participate at a higher level in the project, subject to the token holder having the required skill sets.

Phase 4: Partnerships and Global Expansion

• Collaboration with eco-friendly organisations.
• Partnerships with community groups and educational institutions.

Stephen Robinson (Co-Founder)

Australian based Stephen has decades of experience in the gold prospecting industry, having worked in mining operations both underground and above ground. His primary business interests now lay in media and advertising in both Australia and New Zealand. He heads up the corporate side of the project and ensures that Otago Gold is built on a foundation of sound industry practices.

Christopher Pritchard (Co-Founder)

New Zealand based Christopher brings over 25 years of gold mining and business experience. His practical experience in the New Zealand mining theatre coupled with developing his own hospitality business has given him the unique skill set needed to drive the Otago Gold Project. Chris will manage the infield operations for the project.

Together, Stephen and Christopher’s combined 50+ years of experience gives the Otago Gold project a genuine level of relevant expertise.

Otago Gold is committed to complying with all relevant legal frameworks and regulations, ensuring the security and legality of all platform activities.

Regulatory Compliance:

Otago Gold adheres to Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations to ensure safe and compliant transactions on the platform.

The Otago Gold project is a registered company in New Zealand and will be compliant with the New Zealand Corporations and Taxation Laws.

Intellectual Property:

Creators retain full intellectual property rights over the NFTs they mint on Otago Gold, with licensing terms embedded directly into smart contracts to ensure transparency and fairness. This will ensure the project creators can manage the project for the benefit of all token holders.

Environmental Sustainability:

Otago Gold’s commitment to sustainability is demonstrated by its choice to use a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchain, which is far more energy-efficient than Proof-of-Work systems.

Otago Gold’s primary goal is to empower the next generation, particularly those embracing the rapidly evolving digital landscape of crypto and NFTs. The project offers an opportunity to participate in a crypto/NFT-driven initiative that goes beyond the traditional concept of simply owning an NFT. 

Token holders will be able to gain access to varying degrees of engagement with the project depending on the token they hold.

This project combines real-world assets with unique opportunities for token holders, granting access to some of the world’s most productive gold-bearing rivers for personal prospecting. Additionally, participants benefit from stablecoin rewards generated by the project’s small-scale mining operations.

Otago Gold has a runway of 10 to 12 years, offering a series of viable, small-scale projects that the token holders can actively benefit from.

This NFT project seamlessly merges the timeless value of gold with the innovation of NFTS, offering a platform where digital assets are directly connected to real-world opportunities. Featuring asset-backed NFTs and an eco-friendly blockchain, it ensures a smooth and enjoyable experience for token holders.