KEY FACTS: Tether, the issuer of the world's leading stablecoin USDT and gold-backed token XAU₮, has invested $150 million in Gold.com (NYSE: GOLD), a prominent online marketplace for precious metals, acquiring approximately 12% ownership through the purchase of about 3.371 million common shares at $44.50 per share; the deal includes an initial $125 million tranche with an additional $25 million pending regulatory approvals, granting Tether the right to nominate a board representative. This partnership integrates Tether's XAU₮, the top tokenized gold asset backed 1:1 by roughly 140 tonnes of physical gold, into Gold.com's platform, while the companies explore enabling purchases of physical gold using Tether's stablecoins like USD₮ and the U.S.-regulated USAt, subject to feasibility checks. Gold.com will reciprocate by investing $20 million in XAU₮, underscoring Tether's push to connect digital finance with traditional bullion amid its massive reserves and diversification efforts following a $10 billion profit in 2025.
Source: Tether Blog
Tether Acquires 12% Stake in Gold.com with $150 Million Investment to Bridge Tokenized and Physical Gold Markets
Tether, the issuer of the world's largest stablecoin USDT (often referred to as USD₮), has made a significant move into the traditional precious metals sector by investing $150 million in Gold.com, a publicly listed online marketplace specializing in gold, silver, platinum, and other alternative assets.
The investment, announced on February 5, 2026, sees Tether acquiring approximately 12% ownership in Gold.com (NYSE: GOLD) through the purchase of about 3.371 million common shares at an issue price of $44.50 per share. The deal is structured with an initial investment of roughly $125 million, with an additional $25 million to follow upon securing certain regulatory approvals. As part of the agreement, Tether will also have the right to nominate a representative to Gold.com's board of directors.
This partnership aims to bridge the worlds of digital finance and physical precious metals, expanding global access to both tokenized gold and traditional bullion purchases. A key focus is the integration of Tether's gold-backed cryptocurrency, Tether Gold (XAU₮ or XAUt), into Gold.com's platform. XAU₮ is the leading tokenized gold asset by market capitalization, backed 1:1 by physical gold (with approximately 140 tonnes held in reserves), featuring daily transparency and regulated issuance under El Salvador's Digital Asset Issuance Law.
The collaboration extends beyond token integration. Tether and Gold.com are actively exploring ways to allow customers to buy physical gold using Tether's stablecoins, including the flagship USD₮ (the world's most widely used dollar-pegged stablecoin) and the recently launched USAt (USA₮), a federally regulated stablecoin designed for the U.S. market in partnership with Anchorage Digital. These options remain subject to regulatory, technical, and commercial feasibility assessments.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized the long-term strategic rationale behind the move, highlighting gold's enduring role as a store of value. According to him, Gold has played a central role in preserving value for centuries, particularly during periods of monetary stress and geopolitical uncertainty. Ardoino furthered that Gold exposure is a hedge and a long-term allocation to protect our user base and ourselves in a world that is becoming increasingly unstable.
He further elaborated that the investment reflects Tether's conviction that “gold should be as accessible, transferable, and usable as modern digital money, without compromising on physical backing or ownership.”
The announcement arrives amid a booming gold market, where prices have surged more than 80% over the past 12 months. Spot gold reached an all-time high of around $5,600 per ounce on January 29, 2026, before settling near $4,800 at the time of the deal's disclosure. This rally has boosted interest in gold-backed digital assets like XAU₮, which benefits from Tether's established infrastructure and massive user base.
Meanwhile, Tether reported a staggering $10 billion in profit for 2025, driven largely by interest earned on U.S. Treasury holdings backing its $185.6 billion USD₮ reserves. Tether has also accumulated substantial physical gold reserves, previously reported at around 130 metric tons, and maintains one of the largest private gold holdings globally. This latest investment follows other recent moves, including a $100 million equity stake in Anchorage Digital announced on the same day to support USAt adoption and the bank's planned public listing.
For Gold.com, the influx of capital and the strategic partnership with Tether represent a major boost to growth and innovation. The company, which operates as a fully integrated platform for precious metals, numismatic coins, and collectibles, will also invest $20 million into Tether’s XAU₮ stablecoin as part of the reciprocal elements of the deal.
Industry observers view this transaction as a deepening of Tether's tokenized gold strategy, positioning the company to likely dominate the intersection of physical and digital gold markets. Tether is combining its dominance in stablecoins with direct access to physical distribution channels in order to create a more seamless ecosystem where users can move fluidly between fiat-pegged digital dollars, gold-backed tokens, and actual bullion.
With XAU₮ holding over 60% market share in the gold-backed stablecoin space and gold prices at historic levels, the partnership could accelerate mainstream adoption of tokenized precious metals while reinforcing Tether's role as a bridge between traditional finance and blockchain-based assets.
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