Virtual gold locker (VGL) as a digital innovation in gold pawn services: An analysis of opportunities, challenges, and Its impact on user behavior

Dera Eka Candelia (Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Da'wah and Communication, Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Ampel Surabaya, Surabaya, East Java 60237)
Lukman Aditya Maulana (Department of Communication Science, Faculty of Da'wah and Communication, Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Ampel Surabaya, Surabaya, East Java 60237)

Journal of Entrepreneurial Economics
Vol. 3 No. 2: August (2026)

Background: The rapid expansion of digital financial services has transformed user expectations toward more interactive, intuitive, and visually immersive platforms, particularly in gold-based financial products. This study analyzes the opportunities, challenges, and behavioral implications of developing a Virtual Gold Locker (VGL), a three-dimensional (3D) visualization feature designed to digitally represent gold assets within Pegadaian’s platform ecosystem. Unlike conventional digital pawn interfaces that rely on numeric portfolios and static ledgers, VGL introduces an interactive “locker” environment that may strengthen psychological ownership and reduce the sense of loss associated with pawning physical assets. Drawing from behavioral finance, the study argues that immersive visualization may also support trust and comprehension among users with varying levels of digital literacy. Methods: This qualitative descriptive research relies on secondary data from academic literature, industry reports, financial authority publications, and official Pegadaian documentation. Data were analyzed using the Miles and Huberman model through data condensation, data display, and conclusion drawing to map the conceptual relationship between VGL, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). Findings: The findings indicate that immersive 3D visualization has the potential to enhance perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, performance expectancy, and digital engagement. However, implementation challenges include technological readiness, real-time data integration, cross-device compatibility, regulatory compliance, and user adaptation. Conclusion: VGL can serve as a strategic digital innovation for transforming gold pawn services from a purely transactional interface into a more relational, accessible, and experience-oriented financial platform. Its successful implementation requires reliable technology, user-centered design, and appropriate regulatory safeguards. Novelty/Originality of this article: This study integrates behavioral finance and interactive fintech concepts into the analysis of digital pawn services, an area that remains relatively unexplored in entrepreneurial economics research.