VaultRunner eliminates the middleman — directly connecting buyers and sellers with independent custody and transparent pricing. Traditional dealers earn a profit from both sides of every transaction. VaultRunner does not.
After more than two decades working in the retail precious metals industry, one pattern became impossible to ignore. Buyers consistently paid 8 to 20 percent over spot price — not because the metals were worth that premium, but because dealer overhead, inventory risk, and institutional margins had to be covered somewhere.
Sellers had it no better. Trading in metals meant accepting 70 to 85 cents on the dollar from dealers who needed their own margin to stay in business. The metals were worth what they were worth — spot said so — but the market structure meant neither party ever got there.
The peer-to-peer model existed in other asset classes. Real estate had platforms where owners sold direct. Equities had moved to near-zero commission decades ago. Precious metals — a $200+ billion global market — were still running on a model built for an era before the internet.
VaultRunner was designed to answer a simple question: what if a buyer and seller could transact at a price they both agreed on, with vault-authenticated metal, escrow-protected payment, and a technology platform facilitating the connection — instead of a dealer in the middle taking the spread?
VaultRunner is built around a specific set of structural commitments about how a precious metals marketplace should work. These aren't marketing positions — they're architectural choices baked into the platform from the ground up.
VaultRunner connects buyers and sellers directly. It does not hold inventory, take custody of metals, or handle payments. Every structural decision on the platform reinforces that separation.
The platform provides the marketplace infrastructure — listings, verification, pricing data, and transaction coordination — while payments and metal custody remain entirely with independent, regulated third parties.
| Traditional Dealer | VaultRunner | |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer premium over spot | 8–20% (coin-dependent) | ~1–5% (peer-set price) |
| Seller payout vs. spot | 70–85 cents on the dollar | Up to ~97 cents on the dollar |
| Price transparency | Spread embedded, not disclosed | Premium over spot set by seller shown on every listing |
| Payment protection | Direct payment to dealer | Escrow funds are held until all parties are satisfied |
| Metal authentication | Dealer-issued grading (conflict of interest) | Pre-authenticated at COMEX-approved vault |
| Shipping risk | Buyer or seller bears transit risk | Vault-to-vault: no shipping required for vaulted metals |
| Fee structure | Spread hidden in quoted price | 1.5% seller fee + 0.75% buyer fee — disclosed upfront |
| Platform custody | Dealer holds inventory and funds | VaultRunner holds neither |
Dealer premiums shown are representative of current retail market conditions for standard bullion products and vary by product, quantity, and payment method. VaultRunner peer-listed premiums reflect a typical observed range and are not guaranteed. For illustrative purposes only — not investment advice.
VaultRunner is currently in beta development. Register now to be among the first buyers and sellers on the platform when the marketplace opens. Early registrants receive priority access.