Overview

XAU₮ is structured so that 1 token corresponds to 1 troy fine ounce of gold. The issuer states that the backing gold is allocated on identifiable London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) Good Delivery bars, with custody held off-chain. The token is intended to provide spot-gold exposure with on-chain transferability, allowing holders to move a gold-linked position without moving metal.

• Backing unit: 1 XAU₮ = 1 troy fine ounce of gold
• Asset form: allocated bullion on LBMA Good Delivery bars
• Issuer context: associated with Tether Limited and the broader Tether (USDT) product suite

History and background

Tether introduced Tether Gold in 2020, extending the brand beyond fiat-referenced tokens into commodities. The product targets users who want gold exposure without physical handling, storage, or insurance, while still framing ownership around allocated bars rather than a purely synthetic price instrument.

Token mechanics and supported networks

XAU₮ has circulated on multiple blockchains. It is commonly associated with Ethereum and TRON, enabling standard token transfers depending on the chain. Tether has also expanded distribution to other ecosystems, including TON; CryptoSlate covered this expansion in reporting on Tether bringing XAUT to TON.

The token is divisible, allowing fractional exposure to gold rather than requiring full-bar purchases. Transfers can occur 24/7, but converting tokens into physical metal depends on issuer processes and vault operations.

Custody, allocation, and attestations

The central promise of XAU₮ is that tokens are backed by physical gold held in custody, and that holdings are allocated to token owners rather than recorded as an unassigned pool. In this structure, the on-chain ledger records balances, while legal title and bar custody remain off-chain, with redemption and record-keeping handled by the issuer.

In April 2025, Tether released what it described as the first official attestation for XAU₮ backing. CryptoSlate reported the statement indicated 246,523.33 ounces, more than 7.7 tons, of gold supporting the token supply at the time, in coverage of XAU₮’s record backing. CryptoSlate has also examined what can be verified on-chain versus what depends on off-chain reserve reporting and redemption logistics in its analysis of tokenized gold verification.

Use cases and market position

XAU₮ is commonly used as portable gold exposure that can move between exchanges and self-custody wallets. Use cases include portfolio diversification, collateralization where supported by platform risk policies, and settlement where participants prefer bullion-linked value rather than fiat-linked stablecoins.

Within tokenized gold, XAU₮ is frequently compared with PAX Gold (PAXG). CryptoSlate reporting has described XAU₮ and PAXG as accounting for a large share of tokenized gold market capitalization during periods when the sector has grown into the low single-digit billions, as discussed in coverage of tokenized gold’s role during macro stress.

Risks and considerations

XAU₮ is issuer-backed, so the main risks are counterparty and operational. Holders rely on the legal structure defining ownership, the integrity of vault custody, and the issuer’s ability to mint and redeem in line with published terms. Redemption may involve identity checks, minimum sizes, fees, and logistics, which can affect liquidity and tracking during periods of heavy demand.

Additional risks include smart contract vulnerabilities, network congestion or fee spikes on the chains where XAU₮ circulates, and liquidity fragmentation across venues that can create small premiums or discounts versus spot gold. Regulatory treatment of tokenized commodities varies by jurisdiction and can influence exchange listings, access, and compliance requirements.

Why it matters

Tether Gold sits at the intersection of commodity ownership and on-chain settlement. For the crypto market, XAU₮ is a prominent example of how tokenized commodities work in practice, where transparency, custody, and enforceable claims can be as important as the blockchain used for transfers.