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Peter Schiff Says He 'Gets Bitcoin' but Not USD-Pegged Stablecoins, Floats Gold-Backed Token Plan

The vocal crypto and bitcoin critic advocated for gold-backed stablecoins instead of U.S. dollar-pegged ones, and he plans to launch one himself.

Updated Jun 22, 2025, 5:24 p.m. Published Jun 20, 2025, 5:53 p.m.
A gold bar (Scottsdale mint/Unsplash)
Gold bar (Scottsdale mint/Unsplash)

What to know:

  • Peter Schiff, a longtime critic of cryptocurrencies and bitcoin, criticized the value of U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins, advocating for gold-backed alternatives.
  • He said he intends to launch a gold-backed token, without providing a timeline or further details.
  • The stablecoin market, dominated by U.S. dollar-backed tokens, has grown to over $260 billion, while gold-backed tokens remain a niche market at $2 billion.

Peter Schiff, vocal proponent of gold and a longtime critic of cryptocurrencies and bitcoin , said he intends to launch his own gold-backed token while taking a dig at the value of U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins.

“I get bitcoin, but not U.S. dollar stablecoins,” Schiff posted Friday on X. “If you're going to introduce a third-party custodian, why settle for a token backed by a flawed fiat currency like the dollar, when you can own one backed by gold?"

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In a reply to a user who encouraged him to launch a gold-backed stablecoin, Schiff confirmed: "They already exist. But I do intent [sic] to launch my own."

His remarks come as the U.S. Senate passed the so-called GENIUS Act to regulate the rapidly growing stablecoin sector, a type of digital currency with prices anchored to an external asset such as fiat currencies. The stablecoin market mushroomed to over $260 billion, with Citi forecasting that it could become a $3.7 trillion asset class by the end of the decade.

These tokens have become a key piece of trading infrastructure and are increasingly popular for cross-border payments and remittances. The market is dominated by U.S. dollar-backed tokens like Tether's USDT and Circle's USDC.

Gold-backed tokens, meanwhile, make up a niche but growing segment with a market size of around $2 billion. Contrary to fiat-backed stablecoins, gold tokens are mostly used as a store of value, like their physical version, but on blockchain rails. However, there are ongoing efforts to bring more utility for gold tokens in decentralized finance applications, for example using as collateral for loans.

Read more: Stablecoin Protocol USDT0 Aims to Bring Tokenized Gold Closer to DeFi

Sizin için daha fazlası

BlackRock exec says 1% crypto allocation in Asia could unlock $2 trillion in new flows

BlackRock logo in front of a building (BlackRock/Modified by CoinDesk)

During a panel discussion at Consensus in Hong Kong, Peach pointed to massive capital pools in traditional finance as ETF adoption spreads across Asia.

Bilinmesi gerekenler:

  • Even a 1% crypto allocation in standard portfolios across Asia could translate into nearly $2 trillion of inflows, highlighting how modest shifts in asset allocation could transform the digital asset market, according to the head of APAC iShares at BlackRock, Nicholas Peach.
  • BlackRock's iShares unit, whose U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETF IBIT has rapidly grown to about $53 billion in assets, is seeing strong demand from Asian investors as ETF adoption accelerates across the region.
  • Regulators in markets such as Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea are moving toward broader crypto ETF offerings, but industry leaders say investor education and portfolio strategy will be critical to channeling traditional finance capital into digital assets.