 ▲ Gold, Tether (USDT) / ChatGPT-generated image |
The world’s largest stablecoin issuer, Tether (USDT), is accelerating the convergence of digital finance and physical assets by investing $150 million in Gold.com, a New York Stock Exchange–listed company, to strengthen its influence in the traditional safe-haven gold market.
According to cryptocurrency news outlet Cointelegraph on February 6 (local time), Tether Investments, Tether’s investment arm, made a strategic investment to acquire about a 12% stake in precious metals and alternative assets platform Gold.com (GOLD). The transaction involved Tether purchasing 3.371 million shares of Gold.com common stock at $44.50 per share, granting Tether the right to nominate members to Gold.com’s board of directors.
The partnership between the two companies goes beyond a simple equity investment and extends into tangible business integration. Gold.com plans to integrate Tether Gold (XAU₮), Tether’s gold-backed stablecoin, into its platform infrastructure and to make a direct $20 million investment in the token. In addition, the companies are working to introduce a payment system that will allow customers to purchase physical gold directly using Tether’s flagship stablecoin USDT as well as USAt (USAT), recently launched for the U.S. market.
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, made it clear that this deal is not a short-term trade aimed at price gains but a long-term hedging strategy designed to protect users. He stated, “Gold has historically played a central role in preserving value during times of geopolitical uncertainty and monetary crises,” adding, “This investment reflects our long-held belief that investing in gold should be able to move and function as easily and securely as modern digital currencies.”
Gold.com also aims to expand deeper into the digital asset market through this partnership. Greg Roberts, CEO of Gold.com, emphasized, “Tether’s investment validates our strategy to become a vertically integrated leader in the physical precious metals sector,” adding, “Building on Gold.com’s more than 60-year legacy, we will combine digital gold and stablecoins to further expand our market share.” Gold.com is the largest precious metals e-commerce company in North America, reporting $6.5 billion in revenue in the second quarter of last year alone.
Tether currently holds approximately 140 metric tons of physical gold, valued at more than $23.3 billion at current prices. Tether Gold commands over 60% of the entire tokenized gold market, firmly maintaining its position as the industry leader. Through this strategic investment, Tether is expected to further solidify its transformation from a stablecoin issuer into a comprehensive financial infrastructure company backed by real-world assets.
*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and no responsibility is taken for any investment losses based on this content. The information provided should be interpreted solely for informational purposes.*