> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.universalmint.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How Universal Mint works

> The roles on the platform, the life of a token, and how decisions get approved.

## Who uses Universal Mint

| Role | What they do |
| - | - |
| **Investors** | People or organizations that verify their identity, register a wallet, and request or redeem tokens. |
| **Issuers** | Organizations approved to list tokens. They name the custodian that holds the backing, set fees and rules, and review investor requests. |
| **Custodians** | The parties that hold the assets backing each token and confirm the reserve. |
| **Platform operator** | The Universal Mint team that reviews organizations and listings, manages compliance, and can pause activity in an emergency. |

## What can be tokenized

Universal Mint is built for tokens backed by real-world assets. Today it supports two kinds:

* **Commodity tokens** backed by gold, silver, platinum, or copper, measured in troy ounces. Each token is backed by individually tracked bars held by a custodian.
* **Custom tokens** backed by another asset, such as bitcoin, where each reserve transfer is filed as evidence with the request.

Funds, bonds, real estate, and other asset classes are planned.

## The life of a token

**1. An organization is approved**

A company requests an organization on Universal Mint and completes business verification. The platform reviews and approves it as an issuer.

**2. The issuer lists a token**

The issuer submits a listing request describing the token, its contract, its custodian, fees, and terms. The platform reviews the listing; approving it makes the token live.

**3. Investors request tokens**

A verified investor opens an issuance request. The backing is registered, the issuer's approvers sign off, and the tokens are minted to the investor's wallet.

**4. Investors redeem tokens**

An investor opens a redemption request and sends the tokens back. The custodian releases the underlying asset, the tokens are burned, and the asset is delivered.

**5. The record stays public**

Each token has a public page showing its supply and mint and burn history, commodity tokens also show their reserve, and issuers publish disclosures as things change.

## How decisions are approved

Nothing important on Universal Mint happens on one person's say-so unless an organization chooses that.

* **You sign your own requests.** Every request is signed on your device with your passkey or wallet.
* **Organizations decide who approves what.** An issuer can require, for example, two of three treasury officers to approve every mint. See [Approval groups](/issuers/approval-groups).
* **Approvals are recorded.** Each approval is a signed decision kept in the same history as the request it approves.

Learn more in [How records work](/trust/how-records-work).

## Two consoles

* The **Universal Mint app** at [app.universalmint.io](https://app.universalmint.io) is for investors and issuers. If you belong to an organization, you switch between your personal workspace and your organization from the same app.
* The **admin console** at [admin.universalmint.io](https://admin.universalmint.io) is for the platform operator team.


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