7K Metals Review (2026): The Coin-of-the-Month MLM That Went Affiliate
On This Page
- 7K Metals in One Minute
- How the Old 7K Metals MLM Worked
- The Vault: Marketing Without the Company Name
- What Changed in 2026
- The Real Cost: Premiums Over Metal Value
- Is 7K Metals a Scam?
- Is the New Affiliate Program Worth Joining?
- Pros and Cons
- Questions to Ask Before You Buy or Join
- Who 7K Metals Might Suit
- Our #1 Recommendation for Making Money Online in 2026
- Other MLM Reviews
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Verdict on 7K Metals
7K Metals in One Minute
7K Metals is a precious metals company based in Idaho Falls, Idaho. It was founded in 2016 by a small group of coin collectors, including Zach Davis, Josh Anderson and Richard Hansen, and it sells gold and silver coins, bullion and graded collectible coins. For most of its history, it was a multi-level marketing company: members paid an annual fee, bought a "coin of the month," and earned commissions mainly by recruiting other members.
That changed in 2026. On March 3, 2026, the company announced it was "sunsetting" its network marketing model and moving to a direct retail and affiliate model, with the MLM reportedly ending later that month. 7K Metals is a real company selling real metal, and we found no regulator action against it. The questions are how much of a premium you pay for its coins, and whether the new affiliate program is worth joining. This review covers both.
| Company | 7K Metals |
|---|---|
| Based in | Idaho Falls, Idaho |
| Founded | 2016 |
| CEO (2026) | Blake Davis |
| Sells | Gold and silver coins, bullion and graded coins |
| Old model | MLM with annual membership and coin-of-the-month autoship |
| New model (2026) | Single-level affiliate program on referred retail purchases |
| Regulator | No FTC or state action found |
How the Old 7K Metals MLM Worked
Under the MLM model, which is how most people first heard of 7K Metals, members paid an annual fee and set up a monthly coin purchase. Reported terms included:
| Item | Reported Cost |
|---|---|
| Regular membership | About $249 a year |
| Premium membership (includes coins) | About $499 a year |
| Commission withdrawal fee | About $10 a month |
| Coin of the month | Often around $129 per coin, as reported by members |
The pay plan was a binary: points from recruits and their coin purchases built up on two sides of your team, and each matched block of points paid a fixed commission, subject to weekly caps by rank. A new regular member counted for more points than a typical monthly coin purchase. In practice, the plan paid far more for signing up members than for selling coins to outside customers.
Those caps describe the most a rank could earn in a week, not what members typically made. Each rank also required recruiting more members, from two at the first rank to about 20 at Executive Gold.
The Vault: Marketing Without the Company Name
In 2024, 7K Metals used a private Facebook group called The Vault as a marketing funnel. Prospects watched a short video, joined a group about stacking gold and silver, and were not told it was tied to 7K Metals until they were already interested. Existing members were reportedly asked not to mention the company. A company executive described the group as "purely a community to talk about gold and silver." Either way, it is a reminder to ask who runs any investing community before trusting its advice.
What Changed in 2026
In its March 3, 2026 announcement, 7K Metals said it was moving to "a direct retail and affiliate-driven model." CEO Blake Davis said the company was "removing the complications of legacy compensation structures." Under the new affiliate program:
- Affiliates share a referral link or promo code.
- Retail customers buy metals through that link.
- Affiliates earn a fixed percentage commission on qualifying purchases.
- There are no downline levels, so you are paid only on your own referred customers.
This is a real improvement for anyone considering the business side. A single-level affiliate program pays for selling to customers, not for recruiting people who must keep buying. But the announcement did not explain what happens to existing members' ranks, memberships and monthly orders. If you were a member, check your account terms and cancel any autoship you no longer want.
The Real Cost: Premiums Over Metal Value
For a buyer, the most important number is the premium: how much more you pay than the metal's melt value. Bullion coins usually sell for a modest premium. Graded, collectible and limited-edition coins can sell for far more than their metal content, and you may not get that premium back when you sell.
A coin-of-the-month program that sells special editions at around $129 each deserves a careful look. Before you buy any coin, compare the price with the current spot price of its metal and with what other dealers charge for similar coins. And find out what a dealer would pay you for it today.
Is 7K Metals a Scam?
No. 7K Metals sells real gold and silver, and we found no FTC or state action against it. Its old MLM model was built around recruitment and a monthly coin autoship, which is why it drew criticism, and its Vault funnel hid the company's role. The move to a simple affiliate program removes the recruiting structure. The remaining question for buyers is value: whether its coins are fairly priced compared with other dealers.
Is the New Affiliate Program Worth Joining?
Affiliate programs for precious metals can work for people with an audience interested in investing. But commissions on coin sales are usually a small percentage, and you would be promoting one company's products and premiums. As a beginner's income source, it depends entirely on your ability to bring buyers, with no team income to fall back on.
If you are interested in the topic, the FTC's guidance on multi-level marketing and pyramid schemes is useful context for how 7K Metals' old model differed from a plain affiliate program.
Pros and Cons
What Stands Out
- Sells real gold and silver
- No regulator action found
- Ended its recruitment-based MLM in 2026
- New affiliate program pays only on retail sales
What to Weigh Up
- Old model rewarded recruiting over selling
- Coin-of-the-month pricing may carry high premiums
- The Vault funnel hid the company's involvement
- Unclear transition terms for existing members
- Affiliate income depends on bringing your own buyers
Questions to Ask Before You Buy or Join
- What is the premium over spot price on the coins I am buying?
- What would a dealer pay me for this coin today?
- If I was an MLM member, what happens to my membership and monthly order now?
- What percentage does the affiliate program pay, and when?
Who 7K Metals Might Suit
7K Metals may suit collectors who want its specific coins and have compared prices with other dealers. The new affiliate program may suit people who already have an audience interested in precious metals. It is not a shortcut to income for beginners.
Our #1 Recommendation for Making Money Online in 2026
If 7K Metals isn't the right fit for you, here's what we suggest instead.
After comparing hundreds of programs over the years, we know what works and what doesn't. In fact, most of the business opportunities are either instant cash grab schemes or scams or they require experience. However, this beginner-friendly system stood out and is our #1 recommendation for 2026.
Other MLM Reviews
- inCruises review: a $100-a-month travel club fined in Poland.
- Tranont review: supplements and financial services on monthly packages.
- My Daily Choice review: an MLM that moved its sellers to another company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 7K Metals Still an MLM?
No. In March 2026 the company announced it was ending its network marketing model and moving to direct retail sales with a single-level affiliate program.
How Much Did 7K Metals Membership Cost?
Under the MLM model, reported fees were about $249 a year for a regular membership and $499 a year for a premium membership that included coins, plus monthly coin purchases.
Is 7K Metals a Good Place to Buy Gold?
It sells real metal, but compare its prices with the spot price and other dealers. Collectible and special-edition coins often carry high premiums you may not get back.
Who Founded 7K Metals?
It was founded in 2016 in Idaho by a group of coin collectors that included Zach Davis, Josh Anderson and Richard Hansen. Blake Davis was CEO as of 2026.
What Was The Vault?
A private Facebook group about gold and silver that 7K Metals used in 2024 to attract prospects, without telling them at first that it was connected to the company.
Our Verdict on 7K Metals
7K Metals is a real precious metals seller that has dropped the recruiting model that made it controversial. That is good news for buyers and would-be affiliates. Still, check premiums carefully before buying, and don't treat the new affiliate program as easy income.
Looking for a Better Starting Point Than 7K Metals?
Consider our #1 recommendation for making money online in 2026.