Tether Gold Moves 94 Tonnes On-Chain at Low Fees

Tether Gold moved 94 tonnes on chain in six months at 0.0016% fees as reserves reached 148 tonnes and market cap hit $2.66 billion.

Tether Gold has recorded 94 tonnes moved on chain within six months at minimal cost. The transfers carried total fees of about 0.0016% of the value settled.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino shared the figures while outlining growth in tokenized bullion. The update shows rising activity in XAUt as digital gold gains broader market use.

Tether Gold Sees 94 Tonnes Moved On Chain in Six Months

Tether Gold, known as XAUt, processed 94 tonnes of gold transfers on chain in six months. Total transaction costs were about 0.0016% of the value moved.

Paolo Ardoino stated that the figures show the cost efficiency of tokenized settlement. He compared the process with physical gold transport between central banks. 

He noted that physical transfers often require large spending on insurance and logistics.

As of February 22, 2026, XAUt holds more than 60% of the tokenized gold market. The token trades near $5,100 per ounce. 

Gold reached a record $5,597 in late January before easing. XAUt has a market capitalization of about $2.66 billion.

Daily trading volumes range between $172 million and $247 million. The token remains the most traded digital gold asset by volume.

Reserve Growth and Corporate Adoption

Tether’s physical gold reserves reached around 148 tonnes by late January. The holdings are valued at about $23 billion at current prices.

This places the company among the largest gold holders globally. Reports indicate Tether adds one to two tonnes of gold each week.

The purchases support new token issuance as demand grows. The company states that each XAUt token is backed by a physical bullion.

Corporate use cases are also expanding. On February 17, Elemental Royalty Corp. allowed shareholders to receive dividends in XAUt.

The move links public mining firms with blockchain settlement options. Tether also invested $150 million for a 12% stake in Gold.com.

The goal is to connect XAUt with physical gold marketplaces. Earlier, Tether launched XAUt0 using LayerZero’s OFT standard.

The token was first deployed on The Open Network. Wintermute introduced an OTC desk for XAUt and Pax Gold on February 17.

The firm projects the tokenized gold market could reach $15 billion by the end of 2026. Exchanges have also offered zero fee promotions to increase retail activity.

Related Reading: Tether Gold Just Rewrote How Companies Pay Dividends

Market Position and Comparison With Rivals

Tokenized gold now exceeds $6 billion in total market value. XAUt and Pax Gold account for about 90% of the sector.

Both tokens offer exposure to physical bullion through blockchain networks. Unlike gold ETFs, these tokens trade around the clock.

ETFs operate only during stock market hours. XAUt also runs on networks such as Tron, which can reduce transfer costs.

Pax Gold operates under a New York trust structure and publishes monthly attestations.

This structure attracts investors who prefer defined regulatory frameworks. XAUt stores its bullion in Swiss vaults, while Pax Gold holds reserves in London.

Both tokens allow physical redemption starting at 430 tokens. This amount equals a standard 400 ounce gold bar plus fees. 

Tether provides tools that show bar serial numbers and purity details. The transfer of 94 tonnes within half a year reflects increased use of blockchain settlement for bullion.

As gold prices remain elevated, digital tokens continue to record steady trading volumes. The data indicates that tokenized gold is becoming more integrated into global markets.