Tether Takes 12% Stake in Gold.com to Expand Tokenized Gold Reach
Tether has committed $150 million to acquire a minority stake in Gold.com, a move that expands the stablecoin giant’s footprint in the gold sector as demand for safe-haven assets accelerates.
The deal, announced Thursday, gives Tether a 12% stake in a platform that offers both physical bullion and tokenized gold, aligning the company more closely with the rising momentum in precious-metal markets.
As part of the partnership, Tether also plans to integrate its gold-backed token, XAUT, directly into Gold.com’s infrastructure, allowing users to interact with tokenized gold through the platform.
Additionally, the companies intend to explore the possibility of purchasing physical gold using Tether’s dollar-pegged stablecoin USDT, as well as its newly launched U.S.-regulated stablecoin, USAT. The move could expand the ways investors use digital assets to gain exposure to traditional stores of value.
Gold Rally Drives Digital Demand
Tether’s investment comes at a time when gold prices have surged to new highs.
The metal recently topped $5,000 per ounce, reflecting strong demand from investors seeking safe-haven assets during a period marked by geopolitical tensions, macroeconomic uncertainty, and shifting monetary policies.
Gold price (Source: TradingView)
The rally in gold has also fueled rapid growth in blockchain-based gold tokens.
The tokenized gold market has expanded sharply, rising from about $1.3 billion to more than $5.5 billion in value over a relatively short period. Tether’s XAUT currently dominates the segment, accounting for more than 60% of the total market.
XAUT is backed one-to-one by physical gold stored in Swiss vaults, with each token representing ownership of a specific quantity of bullion. The product has gained traction among crypto investors looking for exposure to gold without the complexities of traditional custody and settlement.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the company views gold not as a short-term speculative bet, but as a long-term strategic allocation designed to protect both the firm and its user base.
“Gold has played a central role in preserving value for centuries, particularly during periods of monetary stress and geopolitical uncertainty,” Ardoino said in a statement.
“Gold exposure is not a trade for Tether,” he added. “It is a hedge and a long-term allocation to protect our user base and ourselves in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable.”
Expanding the Stablecoin Ecosystem
The investment in Gold.com is part of a broader strategy by Tether to diversify beyond its flagship USDT stablecoin and strengthen its role in the digital asset ecosystem.
Earlier the same day, the company also announced an investment in Anchorage Digital, a federally regulated crypto bank in the United States. Anchorage is expected to play a key role in the rollout and custody of USAT, Tether’s new U.S.-regulated stablecoin.
By linking stablecoins, tokenized gold, and traditional bullion platforms, Tether appears to be building a hybrid financial ecosystem that bridges digital and physical assets. The Gold.com partnership could allow investors to move seamlessly between stablecoins and gold, potentially creating new liquidity channels for both markets.
The move also sheds light on a broader trend in the crypto industry, where companies are increasingly exploring tokenized real-world assets as a way to attract institutional capital and reduce volatility risks.
With gold prices surging and tokenized commodities gaining traction, Tether’s investment signals that the stablecoin giant is positioning itself at the intersection of traditional safe-haven assets and blockchain-based finance.
