The market cap of tokenized gold has surpassed $1.2 billion, driven by soaring gold prices and a growing appetite for blockchain-based assets.
Rising interest in tokenized gold is part of a broader movement to modernize storage, trading, and utilization in financial markets.
Gold Meets Blockchain Amid Tokenization Revolution
Gold price has reached historic highs above $3,000 per ounce. With this surge, digital representations of precious metals, such as Tether Gold (XAUT) and Paxos Gold (PAXG), capture investor interest.
Don Tapscott, co-founder of Blockchain Research Institute, argues that tokenized gold could transform the $13 trillion gold market by bringing transparency, liquidity, and new financial models.
Based on this assumption, he questioned why gold is still stored in vaults as it was in the 1800s. Meanwhile, assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and stablecoins have gone digital. He believes blockchain technology can revolutionize gold’s role in finance.
“The US government could even tokenize its gold reserves, track them immutably, and use them in innovative ways,” Tapscott explained.
He stated that such an outcome would enable fractional ownership, on-chain verification, and increased accessibility to investors worldwide.
Meanwhile, companies such as Paxos and Tether lead the charge in tokenized gold offerings. Paxos holds a 51.74% market share, while Tether’s holdings follow closely behind at 46.69%.
Publicly listed Matador Technologies is taking a unique approach by tokenizing gold on the Bitcoin blockchain. This offers investors a digital claim on both physical gold and limited-edition digital art.
“We believe that the next generation of financial powerhouses will likely emerge from the tokenization revolution. It’s still early, and the playing field is wide open. Matador and others have the bull by the horns,” Tapscott noted in a recent article.
Gold Tokenization in the US: A Bold Policy Shift?
The momentum behind tokenized gold has also reached the US government. Following President Trump’s March 5 executive order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), policymakers are exploring ways to modernize gold holdings.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that the US will move to “monetize its assets,” leading some to speculate that Fort Knox gold could be tokenized.
“US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says, all the GOLD is there, as he has no plans to visit Fort Knox or to revalue GOLD reserves in a sovereign wealth fund. He speaks on “Bloomberg Surveillance,” Erik Yeung noted.
Senator Cynthia Lummis has also proposed swapping some of the US government’s gold reserves for Bitcoin. US gold reserves are held at a book value of $42 per ounce—unchanged since 1973—despite the market price exceeding $3,000 per ounce.
While the US explores tokenization, geopolitical rivals China and Russia may take an even bolder step—launching a gold-backed stablecoin. Bitcoin maximalist Max Keiser recently highlighted BRICS’ plans to introduce a gold-backed stablecoin.
“The BRICS, principally Russia, China & India, will counter any attempt by the US to introduce a hegemonic, USD-backed stablecoin — with a Gold-backed stablecoin. The majority of the global market will favor a Gold-backed coin since it’s inflation-proof (unlike the USD) and doesn’t boost unwelcome US hegemony. India already runs on a defacto Gold standard and Sharia law in Muslim countries would dictate Gold over a USD riba-coin as well. To be clear, a BTC-backed stablecoin is not fit for purpose due to volatility,” Keiser stated.
Further, Keiser suggested that a stablecoin backed by gold would outcompete USD-backed stablecoins in global markets. He argues that gold is more trusted than the US dollar, tracks inflation effectively, and remains minimally volatile compared to Bitcoin’s price swings.
Russia’s recent rejection of Bitcoin for its National Wealth Fund in favor of gold and the Chinese yuan adds weight to this theory.
With an estimated 50,000 tonnes of combined gold reserves, China and Russia could leverage blockchain technology to introduce a new gold-backed digital asset. Such an action would challenge the US dollar’s dominance in global trade.
Gold vs. Bitcoin: The Safe Haven Debate Intensifies
Gold’s record-breaking rally has reignited debates over its role as a safe-haven asset compared to Bitcoin. Some analysts speculate that Bitcoin could soon follow gold’s trajectory, setting new all-time highs.
However, in economic uncertainty and President Trump’s 2025 tariff policies, gold remains the preferred safe-haven asset. Historically, gold has been the go-to store of value during trade wars and inflationary periods. Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s volatility raises concerns for risk-averse investors.
Despite these differences, the rise of tokenized gold highlights a convergence between traditional and digital finance. As financial markets advance and investors rebalance their portfolios, gold and Bitcoin will likely coexist in a contemporary monetary system.
Whether through tokenization, gold-backed stablecoins, or government-led blockchain initiatives, the financial playing field is shifting.
As traditional institutions increasingly adopt blockchain, the stage is set for transforming how the world perceives, trades, and stores gold relative to Bitcoin.
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