Transfers of the Tether Gold Stablecoin (XAUT) (each token equivalent to 1 troy ounce of physical gold) reached an amount equivalent to 94 tons of tokenized gold between mid-August 2025 and mid-January 2026.
This mobilization on the Ethereum and TRON networks, where (XAUT) operates, Operation cost expressed as commission is only 0.0016% According to data provided by Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino yesterday, February 19th, on the total capital outflow.
in the dynamics On-chainvolumes moved primarily ranged from 1 to 3 tons per week. Exceptional peaks of 7.2 and 14 tonnes were recorded, but as can be seen in the graph, a decisive acceleration occurred in January 2026, reaching a maximum of 21.4 tonnes in the week of January 11th.
Ardoino highlighted the disparity in costs by pointing out operational differences. Aircraft, armed security, millions of dollars in insurance, and customs “While central banks are spending millions of dollars moving gold, crypto networks are enabling instant, low-cost, and secure payments.”
Comparison of operational efficiency and physical transportation
Among other factors, transfer volumes may have been affected by the launch of Scudo, a new unit of account for XAUT (0.001 oz), in early January of last year. It aims to simplify the use of gold as a means of payment by introducing a unit equal to one thousandth of a troy ounce..
This unit of measure allows facilities and end users to easily deploy digital assets without the mathematical friction of standard metal units of measure.
XAUT currently leads the tokenized gold market with a market capitalization of $2.6 billion, according to CoinMarketCap data, and has established itself as the preferred option for those seeking exposure to gold through cryptocurrencies.
Tether rises in global reserves rankings
Beyond asset liquidity, the accumulation of physical reserves has placed the company in a position of macroeconomic relevance. Tether’s physical gold reserves reached 148 tons as of January 31, 2026.acquired around 26 tonnes in the last quarter of 2025 and another 6 tonnes in January.
This growth has been key to Tether’s rise to prominence on the International Financial Commission. According to a report by investment firm Jefferies, Tether could enter the 30th place in the global ranking of the largest holders of gold, as reported by CriptoNoticias.
This level of control has enabled the company to improve its standing among various national banking institutions, officially surpassing the reserves of countries such as Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Korea, and Greece. In this way, Tether has established itself as a global player, confirming the premise of an accelerated rise in the reserve ranking.
