Tokenized Gold Soars as Metal Hits Record Highs

Core Insights - Gold-linked digital assets are experiencing significant growth as gold prices exceed $4,370 per ounce, leading to the launch of new blockchain-based products that transform gold into on-chain financial instruments [1] - The tokenized gold sector has rapidly expanded in 2025, with total capitalization nearing $3.4 billion, a substantial increase from $500 million earlier this year, driven by institutional demand for stable, asset-backed instruments [2] - Tether has introduced XAUT0, an omnichain gold token, which links Solana to Tether's $175 billion cross-chain liquidity base, allowing each token to represent a fraction of a troy ounce of physical gold held in audited vaults [3] Market Dynamics - Over 7,300 XAUT0 tokens are currently in circulation, processing more than $25 billion in total bridge volume, indicating robust market activity [4] - Daily trading in tokenized gold has surpassed $600 million, reflecting strong demand for physical bullion [6] - Analysts highlight that tokenized gold serves as a bridge between traditional finance and digital liquidity, with tokens settling instantly and integrating into decentralized finance platforms [7] Price Performance - PAX Gold (PAXG) is trading around $4,413, having surged more than 65% year-over-year, while Tether Gold (XAUT) is priced near $4,360, gaining 63% [7] - The combined market capitalization of PAXG and XAUT is approaching $3.0 billion, showcasing the shift of physical value stores onto blockchains [7]