Read the rule before choosing the account.
A platinum IRA is a Self-Directed IRA that holds physical platinum bullion at .9995 fineness or higher, under IRC Section 408(m)(3)(B). Platinum is thirty times rarer than gold, driven by industrial demand (catalytic converters, hydrogen fuel cells) and concentrated mine supply in South Africa and Russia.
What It Is
Platinum is a Platinum Group Metal with both a monetary and an industrial life. About forty percent of annual demand goes into automotive catalytic converters. A growing share heads into hydrogen fuel cell technology. The rest runs through jewelry and investment bullion. That mixed demand profile gives platinum a different price driver than gold or silver.
Inside a Self-Directed IRA, a platinum holding pulls your account toward forces that don't track the stock market, the bond market, or even the gold price in a tight line. It is a different lever on the same rack.
Three price drivers
| # | Driver | Details |
|---|---|---|
| I. | Extreme Rarity | Thirty times rarer than gold. Every ounce ever mined would fit in the living room of an average house. The scarcity is not rhetorical. |
| II. | Industrial Demand | Roughly forty percent of annual demand goes into catalytic converters. A growing share flows to hydrogen fuel cells. As emission rules tighten, the demand floor holds. |
| III. | Supply Concentration | More than seventy percent of mine output comes from South Africa and Russia. Political disruption has moved prices sharply in the past. |
The IRS Line
Under IRC Section 408(m)(3)(B) the IRS requires all IRA-eligible platinum to be .9995 fine — 99.95 percent pure or better. Anything below the line can't sit in the account. Eligible products include:
IRA-eligible platinum products
- American Platinum Eagle coins
- Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf coins
- Australian Platinum Koala coins
- PAMP Suisse platinum bars
- LBMA-approved platinum bars at .9995+
Confirm your custodian
Not every custodian handles platinum. Before you begin a rollover with the intent to buy platinum, confirm the account will hold it — the custodians we trust all do, and the full rule sheet covers the rest of the mechanics.
“My financial advisor said physical gold is a bad idea.”
We operate strictly as a dealer, not an investment advisor. We encourage you to consult your fiduciary regarding how physical metals fit into your broader asset allocation.