Tether has invested $150 million in the retail gold platform Gold.com, acquiring a 12% stake and board representation. This move advances Tether’s aggressive strategy to dominate the tokenized gold sector with its XAU₮ (XAUT) stablecoin, mirroring its path with USDT. The investment comes as competition intensifies, with Pax Gold (PAXG) now holding 42% market share against Tether’s 47% in the tokenized gold market.
Tether, the issuer of the dominant USDT stablecoin, has made a $150 million strategic investment in the physical precious metals platform Gold.com. The deal grants Tether approximately 12% ownership and the right to appoint a board member, while Gold.com will invest $20 million in Tether’s gold-backed token, XAUT.
This partnership is designed to enhance the distribution and credibility of XAU₮ and expand Gold.com’s digital offerings. “The collaboration is expected to enhance the credibility and distribution of Tether’s gold-backed XAU₮ stablecoin,” a statement noted.
The investment follows Tether’s established playbook for scaling digital assets. The firm previously invested $100 million in gold royalty company Elemental Altus and $200 million in financial services platform Antalpha to build gold-related infrastructure.
Tether has also become a major physical gold buyer, acquiring 27 tons in the fourth quarter of 2025 alone. “We are strengthening XAU₮’s transparency, scalability, and its ability to move seamlessly between physical and digital markets,” said Juan Sartori, Head of Special Projects at Tether.
CEO Paolo Ardoino framed the broader strategy as positioning for a shift away from traditional fiat systems. He recently told Bloomberg, “We are soon becoming basically one of the biggest, let’s say, gold central banks in the world.”
Despite these efforts, Tether faces stiff competition in the tokenized gold sector. Data shows Paxos’s PAX Gold (PAXG) has rapidly gained ground, now commanding a 42% market share compared to Tether’s 47% for XAUT.
