Gold tokenization accelerates: Tether launches Scudo, trading threshold drops from $4,426 to $4.48

Tether is democratizing gold trading. On January 6, this leading stablecoin launched a new valuation unit for its gold token XAUT called Scudo, where 1 Scudo equals 1/1000 troy ounces of gold, approximately $4.48 at current prices. This seemingly simple move is actually highly significant—it directly draws on Bitcoin’s “Satoshi” concept, breaking down high-value assets into small, everyday usable units, promoting the transformation of gold from an investment asset to a payment tool.

Why launch Scudo now?

Gold prices hit record highs, small transactions cool down

2025 is set to be a historic year for the gold market. Driven by de-dollarization trends, continuous central bank gold purchases, and inflation expectations, gold prices rose approximately 74% throughout the year, with prices once surpassing $4,500 per ounce.

The problem with soaring prices is that the XAUT token priced in ounces becomes too expensive for daily small transactions. A token worth $4,426 creates a high barrier for ordinary users. The launch of Scudo aims to solve this problem—priced at $4.48 each, the transaction threshold is instantly lowered by 1000 times.

Emulating Bitcoin’s “Satoshi” model

Bitcoin has long solved this issue. 1 BTC = 100 million Satoshis, enabling microtransactions. Tether is applying this logic to Scudo, allowing gold tokenization to support microtransactions and everyday payments.

This is not just a unit conversion but a strategic signal: Tether is preparing for large-scale application of gold tokenization.

The current market situation of gold tokenization

XAUT is accelerating its expansion

According to the latest data, XAUT’s market cap has reached about $2.3 billion, and tokenized gold is speeding toward everyday trading and payment scenarios. This means:

• More institutions and individuals are replacing traditional gold bars with blockchain gold
• Gold is no longer just “an asset in a safe,” but a liquid, tradable digital asset
• Transaction costs and liquidity are improving

Competition in gold tokenization market

There are multiple players besides XAUT. Competitors like PAXG (Paxos Gold) are also vying for this space. But Tether has clear advantages:

• A vast stablecoin ecosystem, with USDT having the strongest liquidity worldwide
• Existing trading infrastructure and user base
• After the launch of Scudo, micro-gold trading directly with USDT becomes possible

What is Tether planning?

Building an ecosystem integrating “crypto + traditional assets”

From analyst BiyaPay’s perspective, Tether’s ambitions go beyond stablecoins. Gold assets are increasingly integrating deeply with stablecoins and crypto trading, and will appear more in trading and hedging portfolios in the future.

Tether’s ecosystem map is already quite clear:

• USDT: Foundation for transaction settlement
• XAUT + Scudo: Hedging assets
• Rumble Wallet: Social payments (recently launched, supports BTC tipping)
• Global stock and futures trading: Cross-asset allocation

This is building a “one-stop financial account” logic—users can deploy crypto assets, gold, and global capital markets on the same platform.

Seizing the discourse power in the “digital gold” era

Gold is humanity’s oldest store of value. Tokenizing, micro-sizing, and making it tradable means bringing a market that has existed for thousands of years onto the blockchain. Through the launch of Scudo, Tether is signaling to the market: we are not just a stablecoin provider but also a leader in the digitalization of traditional assets.

Market potential and future outlook

The growth potential of gold tokenization is enormous

The global gold market is valued in trillions of dollars. If gold tokenization penetrates even 1% of this market, it represents a hundred-billion-dollar opportunity. The launch of Scudo is opening this door.

Possible application scenarios

• Micro-payments: $4.48 per unit, suitable for cafes, convenience stores, and similar scenarios
• Hedging portfolios: institutional investors allocating gold for risk hedging in crypto accounts
• Cross-border transfers: using USDT + XAUT combo for cross-border payments, avoiding exchange rate risks
• Derivative trading: futures, options, and other financial products based on Scudo

Regulatory risks need attention

Gold trading involves multiple jurisdictions. Although Tether has obtained compliance recognition in many regions, restrictions on tokenized gold in certain countries could impact growth. Additionally, the support of exchanges, wallets, and other ecosystem partners is necessary for Scudo’s success.

Summary

The launch of Scudo is a key step in the process of gold tokenization. It not only lowers the participation threshold for gold trading but also signifies Tether’s shift from a simple stablecoin provider to a “digital asset ecosystem operator.”

The strong performance of gold in 2025 has already demonstrated market demand, and Scudo provides better tools. In the future, we may see gold tokenization gradually permeate daily financial activities—no longer exclusive to investors, but accessible to ordinary people as an asset allocation option.

In this process, Tether is redefining finance by building an ecosystem that merges “crypto + traditional assets,” and Scudo is a small but important symbol of this new era.