As digital currencies and traditional assets are converging, gold-backed crypto tokens have emerged as a unique investment vehicle. Also referred to as “tokenized gold,” these assets combine the stability of gold with the flexibility of blockchain technology. As the price of gold continues to hit new all-time highs, the demand for gold-backed tokens has increased. Blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain recently posted on X that two crypto whales bought more than $30 million worth of Tether Gold (XAUt) ...

Core Insights - Tether Gold (XAUt) is approaching a market capitalization of $1.5 billion, currently at approximately $1.46 billion, backed by 966 gold bars weighing 11,693.4 kilograms [1] - The total minted supply of XAUt is 375,572.25 ounces, with 261,961.71 ounces (valued at around $1.01 billion) in circulation and 113,610.54 ounces available for sale [2] - The rise in XAUt's market value is aligned with a record-breaking increase in spot gold prices, which recently reached an all-time high of $3,896.49, driven by investor demand for safety amid economic uncertainties [3] Market Performance - Tether Gold has appreciated nearly 46% over the past year and 10% in the last month, positioning it among the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization [4] - The demand for tokenized gold like XAUt is increasing as investors seek more liquid and accessible alternatives to traditional gold holdings [4] Strategic Developments - Tether is planning to raise at least $200 million for a new Digital Asset Treasury Company (DATCO) focused on tokenized gold, in partnership with Antalpha [5] - DATCO will hold Tether's XAUt tokens and aims to enhance institutional participation in tokenized gold [6] - Tether has previously collaborated with Antalpha, acquiring an 8.1% equity stake and expanding their partnership to improve access to XAUt through collateralized lending and vault services [7] Industry Investments - Tether is diversifying its investments in the gold sector, having invested over $200 million in Elemental Altus and is in discussions with other global mining and royalty companies [8]

Core Insights - Tether Gold (XAUt) has surpassed a market capitalization of $1 billion, reflecting increased investor interest in tokenized real-world assets, driven by a significant rise in gold prices [1][2] - The market value of XAUt grew due to the underlying asset, with its total value crossing the billion-dollar mark at the beginning of October 2025 [2] - The success of XAUt and Paxos Gold (PAXG) indicates a duopoly in the digital gold market, providing investors with two billion-dollar options for blockchain-based gold exposure [3] Market Dynamics - XAUt's gold backing is held separately from Tether's general reserves, which include an additional $8.7 billion in gold bars supporting other stablecoins [3] - Regulatory oversight differs between the two tokens, with PAXG being issued by a regulated U.S. firm, while XAUt is issued by a Tether subsidiary licensed in El Salvador [4] - Transparency and reporting standards vary, as Paxos provides monthly audited reserve reports, whereas Tether offers quarterly attestations conducted by BDO Italia [5] User Base and Trading Volume - PAXG has a larger user base with over 74,000 holders and a daily trading volume of approximately $67 million, indicating stronger retail adoption [6] - XAUt has a more concentrated ownership with just over 12,000 holders and a daily volume of about $23 million, suggesting it may appeal more to larger, crypto-native holders or institutions [6] - The trends in user base and trading volume are significant as high gold prices could attract new investors to the digital gold space [6]