Tether, the company behind the USDT stablecoin (USDT), is working with crypto miner financing firm Antalpha to raise at least $200 million for a new digital asset treasury for tokenized gold, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The planned vehicle would stockpile Tether Gold (XAUT), a blockchain-based token backed by physical gold bars under custody in a Swiss vault. XAUT is the largest tokenized gold offering on the market with nearly $1.5 billion market capitalization. ...

Gold’s historic rally accelerated on Monday, with spot prices punching through $3,800 per ounce to set fresh all-time record, extending a torrid year in which bullion is up roughly almost 47% year-to-date. That surge is echoing on across crypto rails, with gold-backed tokens climbing to an all-time high market capitalization of $2.88 billion, CoinGecko data shows. Tokenized versions of the metal are backed by physical reserves but settle on blockchain rails, offering round-the-clock trading and near-insta ...

Core Insights - The cryptocurrency market is undergoing significant changes, with gold and stablecoins forming unexpected connections that may reshape the digital asset reserve landscape and the global financial ecosystem [1] Group 1: Stablecoins - Stablecoins are a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain price stability by being pegged to fiat currencies, making them essential for various applications in the crypto financial system [2] - Major stablecoins include Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC), and Binance USD (BUSD), with Tether leading the market with a valuation exceeding $112 billion [2] - Some stablecoin issuers are beginning to incorporate physical assets like gold into their reserves to create a more diversified and risk-resistant value anchoring mechanism [2] Group 2: Gold - Gold is regarded as the ultimate safe-haven asset, especially during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, with prices rising over 25% in 2025 due to factors like the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and tensions in the Middle East [4] - Central banks, particularly in BRICS nations (China, Russia, India), are significantly increasing their gold reserves to reduce reliance on the dollar, marking a step towards "de-dollarization" [4] Group 3: Tether and Gold Connection - Tether has incorporated gold into its reserve structure, holding approximately $8 billion in physical gold, which constitutes nearly 5% of its total reserves, making it one of the largest non-state holders of gold [5] - Tether has also launched a digital token, XAUT (Tether Gold), which is pegged 1:1 to physical gold, allowing users to trade or transfer equivalent gold without traditional market barriers [5] Group 4: Synergy Between Stablecoins and Gold - The combination of stablecoins and gold enhances the credit strength of stablecoins while allowing gold to escape traditional financial circulation limitations, facilitating its digitalization [6][7] - Stablecoins provide efficient, low-cost value transfer capabilities, while gold offers long-term stability and inflation resistance, creating a complementary relationship [6] Group 5: Future Financial Landscape - The integration of stablecoins and gold represents a re-exploration of trust and value storage in the financial world, driven by technological advancements and shifts in geopolitical dynamics [10] - Tether's accumulation of gold reflects a strategic positioning for future risks and opportunities in the digital currency system, indicating that gold is becoming more accessible through blockchain technology [10]