Tether Adds 3.7 Tons of Gold-Backed Assets: Tokenization Enters a New Phase

Tether has significantly expanded its gold-backed token supply by minting approximately 119,670 XAUT tokens, valued at nearly $497 million. This issuance represents the addition of roughly 3.7 metric tons of physical gold to the onchain ecosystem, reinforcing the growing integration of traditional commodities with blockchain infrastructure. Each XAUT token is designed to represent ownership of physical gold held in reserve, providing investors with a digital method to gain exposure to the safe-haven asset. The move follows reports that Tether Gold deposits in decentralized finance protocols have already surpassed $100 million, indicating that the asset is increasingly utilized beyond simple price exposure. By scaling its supply by nearly half a billion dollars, Tether is facilitating greater liquidity and accessibility for gold within onchain markets. This development serves as a prominent example of the broader shift toward tokenizing real-world assets, moving the concept from experimental to institutional-scale adoption. As demand for onchain commodities grows, such large-scale issuances are likely to become a standard feature of the evolving RWA landscape.