During the third quarter, when gold prices soared to record levels, Tether increased the physical reserves behind its tokenized gold product, XAUT, to 11.6 tons. By the end of September, the company held 375,000 ounces of gold in Switzerland. This surge in global demand propelled XAUT’s market value to $2.1 billion by October. Rising inflation concerns and geopolitical tensions brought digital gold investments back to the forefront.
Tether Gold Demand Reaches New Heights
According to Tether’s statement, XAUT is issued by TG Commodities under El Salvador’s cryptocurrency law, with each coin backed 1:1 by one troy ounce of fine gold. These gold reserves stored in Swiss vaults offer investors a way to preserve value without physically holding gold.
Data indicates that XAUT’s market value surpassed the $1.4 billion mark by the third quarter of 2025, and as the price of gold per ounce climbed to $4,500 in October, its market value reached $2.1 billion. CoinMarketCap reports Tether’s digital gold currently holds a market value of about $2.08 billion.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino noted a growing interest in tokenized gold, especially among individual investors in developing countries seeking access to gold. For users with limited access to traditional financial instruments, XAUT stands out as a digital space-friendly alternative safe haven.
Digital Gold: A New Safe Haven
Tokenized gold provides investors with the opportunity to hold gold through a Blockchain-based asset without dealing with the physical storage and logistical processes. This approach offers both transparency and accessibility. XAUT has emerged as a new investment tool, particularly for individuals without access to gold accounts or exchange-traded funds.
Experts emphasize that the increase in digital gold demand stems not only from price movements but also from global uncertainties. Thanks to decentralized infrastructure, gold can now be securely held not only in vaults but also in cryptocurrency wallets. This has led to significant interest in the digital version alongside its physical counterpart.