TLDR
- Tether purchased a 12% stake in Gold.com for $150 million to expand distribution of its gold-backed token XAUT
- The tokenized gold market has grown from $1.3 billion to over $5.5 billion as gold prices topped $5,000 per ounce
- Tether’s XAUT token represents over 60% of the tokenized gold market and is backed by physical gold in Swiss vaults
- Gold.com shares rose 6% in after-hours trading following the announcement on Thursday
- Tether also invested in Anchorage Digital to support its U.S.-regulated stablecoin USAT
Tether, the company behind the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has bought a $150 million stake in Gold.com. The investment gives Tether a 12% ownership in the precious metals platform.
Tether Makes $150 Million Strategic Investment in https://t.co/wkdntYlIFB, Expanding Global Access to Tokenized and Physical Gold
Read more:https://t.co/ttkmDcS369
— Tether (@tether) February 5, 2026
The deal was announced Thursday in a blog post. Tether will initially purchase $125 million worth of Gold.com common shares. An additional $25 million will follow upon regulatory approval.
As part of the partnership, Gold.com will integrate Tether’s gold-backed token XAUT into its platform. The companies will explore allowing customers to buy physical gold using Tether’s stablecoins USDT and USAT.
Gold.com operates several precious metals businesses. These include JMBullion.com, Stack’s Bowers Galleries, GovMint.com, and Monex Precious Metals. The company was founded in 1965.
Gold.com shares traded on the NYSE rose 6% after Thursday’s market close. Tether will be allowed to nominate one member to Gold.com’s board of directors.
The investment comes as gold prices have surged past $5,000 per ounce. This rally has driven investor interest in both physical gold and blockchain-based gold tokens.
Tokenized Gold Market Growth
The tokenized gold market has expanded rapidly in recent months. Market value grew from $1.3 billion to more than $5.5 billion.
Tether’s XAUT token dominates this space. It accounts for over 60% of the tokenized gold market. Each XAUT token is backed one-to-one by physical gold stored in Swiss vaults.
Tether holds approximately 140 tons of gold directly. This gold was worth over $23.3 billion when disclosed in January. The company views gold as a long-term hedge against instability.
“Gold has played a central role in preserving value for centuries, particularly during periods of monetary stress and geopolitical uncertainty,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. He added that gold exposure is a hedge to protect users in an increasingly unstable world.
Tether’s Broader Strategy
Tether issues over $185 billion in USDT stablecoins. USDT is backed primarily by cash and cash equivalents like U.S. Treasuries. The company also invests heavily in bitcoin and gold.
Last week, Tether reported $10 billion in net profit for 2025. The company holds excess reserves of over $6.3 billion. Tether has investments across multiple sectors including bitcoin mining, decentralized communications, and artificial intelligence.
Gold.com CEO Greg Roberts called Tether’s investment a validation of the company’s strategy. “The investment builds upon Gold.com’s 60+ year legacy and expands our reach beyond traditional bullion into digital gold and stablecoins,” Roberts said.
On Thursday, Tether also announced an investment in Anchorage Digital. Anchorage is a U.S. federally regulated crypto bank that partnered with Tether on the rollout of USAT, its U.S.-regulated stablecoin.
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