LATEST: 📊 Tokenized gold assets like PAXG and XAUt are responsible for virtually 100% of publicly visible gold price discovery on weekends when CME futures markets are closed, says Theo CIO Iggy Ioppe. https://t.co/mxi0ptcd9y ...

🚨 NEW: Tokenized gold like PAXG and XAUt now drives nearly all weekend gold price discovery while CME futures are closed, with market cap surging to $4.4B.Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph):https://t.co/YZsdLCjwvw ...

According to Etherscan, Tether minted about 192K XAUt on Ethereum today, worth around $946 million, equivalent to about 6 metric tons of physical gold. https://t.co/8KxQY2XYVd ...

Core Insights - Gold prices have surged, approaching $5,600 per ounce, marking a significant increase of over 27% in the past year and nearly 100% year-to-date [1][2] - The rally is driven by geopolitical tensions, a weaker U.S. dollar, and speculation regarding potential monetary easing by central banks [2] - Tether has expanded its physical gold holdings to approximately 140 tonnes, valued at around $23 billion, positioning itself as one of the largest non-sovereign gold holders globally [2][3] Market Dynamics - The total market capitalization of gold is estimated at roughly $37 trillion, while Bitcoin's market cap is around $1.8 trillion [6] - A notable 5% increase in gold prices on a single day added the entire market cap of Bitcoin, highlighting the scale of the gold market's movement [4] Future Considerations - Potential scenarios that could trigger a rotation between gold and Bitcoin include renewed monetary expansion, stress in bond markets, and shifts in investor psychology [7] - If the Federal Reserve engages in large-scale balance sheet expansion, both gold and Bitcoin could benefit, with Bitcoin potentially outperforming due to its higher beta [7] - Stress in bond markets could enhance gold's appeal, while Bitcoin may regain its status as an uncorrelated hedge if market conditions worsen [7]

Core Insights - Tether, a major player in the cryptocurrency market, has emerged as a significant buyer of gold, holding 116 tons valued at approximately $14 billion, surpassing some national central banks [3][4] - The price of gold has surged by 56% in 2025, with Tether's purchases coinciding with this increase, particularly during the second wave of price growth from mid-August to mid-October [3][4] - The rise of gold-backed stablecoins is gaining traction, with Tether's USDT and XAUt contributing to this trend, reflecting a shift in the stablecoin market [4][7] Tether's Gold Purchases - Tether's gold purchases accounted for about 2% of global gold demand in Q3 and 12% of known central bank purchases during the same period [3] - In Q2, Tether's gold buying represented 14% of global central bank purchases, indicating its growing influence in the gold market [3] - Tether holds 104 tons of gold as reserves for USDT and an additional 12 tons for XAUt, suggesting a strategic move to bolster its asset backing [4] Market Dynamics - The gold price increase has occurred in two phases, with the first phase seeing a nearly $1,000 rise before April and the second phase mirroring this increase from August to October [3] - Tether's demand for gold may have tightened supply and influenced market sentiment, driving speculative investments into gold [4][6] - The stablecoin market is evolving, with gold-backed stablecoins becoming a new category, currently valued at $1.6 billion, representing 0.67% of the total stablecoin market [7] Regulatory Considerations - Tether's use of gold as a reserve asset contrasts with new U.S. regulations that prohibit compliant issuers from using gold as backing, leading Tether to plan a new stablecoin, USAT, that will not be gold-backed [5] - The intertwining of gold and cryptocurrency ecosystems raises questions about the stability and regulatory compliance of such assets [5][6] Future of Digital Gold - The development of digital gold is seen as timely, with potential for innovation in financial products, provided regulatory frameworks are established [7][8] - Challenges remain in ensuring transparency and security in the issuance and tracking of digital gold, as well as maintaining sufficient physical gold reserves [8] - The future landscape may see digital gold complementing physical gold rather than replacing it, enhancing the overall gold market [8]

Core Insights - The global gold market is undergoing a historic restructuring, with Russia's central bank confirming the sale of physical gold reserves to address budget needs, marking a significant shift in its strategy [1][4] - Tether, the largest stablecoin issuer, has emerged as a major player in the gold market, accumulating gold reserves comparable to those of small central banks, which has contributed to rising gold prices [1][5][6] Group 1: Russia's Gold Sales - Russia's central bank has begun selling physical gold reserves for the first time, with over 2300 tons in reserves, to compensate for budgetary shortfalls due to Western sanctions [1][4] - Since the escalation of the Ukraine crisis in February 2022, Western sanctions have frozen nearly half of Russia's foreign exchange reserves, totaling approximately €300 billion [4] - Domestic demand for gold has surged, with retail purchases expected to reach 62.2 tons this year, reflecting a shift in savings preferences among Russian consumers [4] Group 2: Tether's Gold Accumulation - Tether has rapidly increased its gold holdings, with at least 116 tons by the end of Q3, including 12 tons backing its XAUt token and approximately 104 tons supporting USDT [5][6] - The company has been identified as a significant new buyer in the gold market, with a 26-ton increase in Q3 alone, representing about 2% of global demand [1][6] - Tether's CEO has indicated plans to continue increasing gold reserves, with projections suggesting potential annual increases of nearly 60 tons based on future profits [7][8] Group 3: Market Dynamics and Future Outlook - The rising gold prices, which have increased over 50% this year, are influenced by Tether's accumulation strategy and the ongoing sales from Russia [1][5] - Tether's broader investment strategy includes over $300 million in royalties and streaming companies, indicating a comprehensive approach to its gold market involvement [8] - The introduction of a new stablecoin, USAT, which does not require gold reserves, introduces uncertainty regarding the long-term demand for USDT and gold [8]

LATEST: ⚡ Streaming platform Rumble has started testing native Bitcoin, USDt and XAUt tipping within its app, with Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino calling it the future of the creator economy. https://t.co/ClfoMHpJk0 ...

Core Viewpoint - The recent surge in gold prices is attributed to Tether's significant accumulation of gold, which has tightened supply and contributed to the price rally, rather than traditional market drivers [1]. Group 1: Tether's Gold Accumulation - Tether has reportedly aimed to purchase around 100 tons of gold in 2023, following meetings with miners and royalty firms [2]. - Analysts estimate Tether held at least 116 tons of gold by the end of Q3 2023, with 12 tons backing its XAUt token and approximately 104 tons backing USDT, making it the largest non-sovereign holder of gold [3]. - The pace of Tether's gold accumulation was notable, with around 26 tons acquired in Q3 2023, representing about 2% of global demand [4]. Group 2: Future Projections and Strategies - Tether is expected to continue its gold accumulation as USDT grows, maintaining gold at about 7% of its reserves, with potential annual additions of nearly 60 tons based on projected profits [5]. - Tether has invested over $300 million into royalty and streaming companies in the gold sector, indicating a broader strategy in the metals market [6]. - The hiring of two top metals traders from HSBC suggests an acceleration in Tether's gold investment strategy [6].

Core Insights - Tether has become the 17th-largest holder of United States debt, surpassing countries like South Korea, the UAE, and Germany, and is aiming to overtake Brazil next [1][2] - The company currently holds $135 billion in US Treasury, marking significant growth and indicating that a crypto-based entity has outperformed an industrial state in government bonds [2][3] - Tether's achievements lend credibility to its stablecoin, USDT, which is backed by solid and liquid assets, and the company anticipates reaching nearly $15 billion in net profits by 2025 [3][4] Financial Performance - In 2024, Tether reported over $13 billion in net profit, more than double the $6.2 billion from 2023, showcasing its strong financial performance [5] - The company's low costs and Treasury-backed model are highlighted as key factors contributing to its profit margins [5] User Growth and Ecosystem Expansion - Tether has reached a milestone of 500 million verified users, indicating rapid growth in its ecosystem [6] - The gold-backed token, XAUt, has surpassed $1 billion in market value, driven by gold reaching an all-time high price [6]

RT USDT0 (@USDT0_to)XAUt0 deposits on @Solana are live on @Bybit_Official. Withdrawals open when liquidity requirements are met.Bringing the oldest store of value to millions on one of the most widely adopted exchanges. https://t.co/3q5hkY6BtX ...