Top gold holder doubles down on precious metal

Core Insights - Gold has been recognized as a reliable asset during financial distress, serving as a store of value and a safe haven during inflation and currency debasement [1] - The price of gold reached a new all-time high of $5,110.50 per ounce on January 26, 2026, with an appreciation of over 50% in value over the last six months [2] - In contrast, Bitcoin has lost 25% of its value during the same period, with the total crypto market cap also declining by approximately 25% [3] Company Developments - Tether Limited, known for its USDT stablecoin, has shifted focus to Tether Gold (XAUT), a gold-backed stablecoin, with one XAUT backed by one fine troy ounce of physical gold [5] - As of the end of Q4 2025, Tether held 520,089.350 fine troy ounces of gold, valued at $2.2 billion, with 520,089.300000 XAUT tokens in circulation [5] - Tether Gold accounted for about 60% of the total gold-backed stablecoin supply, positioning Tether among the top 30 global gold holders, surpassing countries like Greece, Qatar, and Australia [6][7]