Tether has acquired a 12% stake in Gold.com through a $150 million investment, aiming to connect USDT holders with tokenized and physical gold. The deal includes integrating Tether's gold-backed token XAU₮ into Gold.com's platform. This move comes as gold prices surpass $5,000 an ounce amid rising demand for hedges.
Tether announced a $150 million investment in Gold.com, purchasing approximately 12% of the company by acquiring 3.371 million common shares at $44.50 each. As part of the agreement, Gold.com will invest $20 million into Tether's XAU₮ token, which represents tokenized gold. The partnership seeks to expand access to both digital and physical gold for cryptocurrency users, particularly those holding USDT, without requiring them to exit the crypto ecosystem.
This development occurs against a backdrop of surging gold prices, now trading above $5,000 per ounce, signaling renewed investor caution in volatile markets. Tether, a major stablecoin issuer, has bolstered its gold reserves by acquiring 27 metric tons in the fourth quarter of 2025, incorporating them into the assets backing its products. The company's CEO has indicated plans to allocate 10% to 15% of its investment portfolio to physical gold, positioning it as a core reserve asset alongside treasuries.
The tokenized gold sector has grown significantly, with a market capitalization nearing $6 billion and a fourfold expansion since the end of 2024. This growth aligns with broader trends in real-world assets (RWAs) on blockchain, where distributed asset value stands at $24.72 billion across 844,000 holders. For comparison, tokenized Treasuries hold $10.60 billion in value, serving 65,000 holders with a seven-day APY of 3.16% as of February 13.
The integration aims to simplify gold purchases for crypto users, leveraging Gold.com's established retail platform for precious metals, including delivery options for bars and coins. However, the market faces ongoing concerns regarding custody, legal ownership, redemption rights, and regulatory oversight, particularly in scenarios of market stress or issuer insolvency. Tether views this as a strategic step to make gold a mainstream hedge within crypto, potentially retaining users during risk-off periods.
