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XAUT is the largest tokenized gold asset with a market cap of $2.66 billion. All 560,000 tokens in circulation are backed by physical gold in Swiss vaults - and you can buy them without registering on an exchange, without identity verification, and without giving your assets to a third party.
Key Takeaways
1 XAUT = 1 troy ounce of physical gold in a Swiss vault - yours from the first second, with no exchange account required.
Buy with a credit card or swap from crypto - directly inside the wallet, without leaving the app.
Buy Tether Gold from any amount - XAUT is divisible to 0.000001 oz, so you can start with just a few dollars.
What Is Tether Gold (XAUT)?
Tether Gold (XAUT) is a digital token where 1 XAUT = 1 troy ounce of physical gold that meets the London Good Delivery (LBMA) standard, stored in Swiss vaults. The token price tracks the XAU spot price in real time - if it deviates, arbitrage traders bring it back in line through the mint-and-redeem mechanism.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Issuer | TG Commodities Limited (Tether Holdings subsidiary) |
| Networks | Ethereum (ERC20), TRON (TRC20) |
| Backing | 1 troy oz of physical gold per token |
| Vaults | Brinks and Loomis, Switzerland |
| Audit | BDO Italia, quarterly + Chainlink Proof of Reserve |
| Divisibility | Down to 0.000001 troy oz |
| Issuer fee | 0.25% per year |
| Market cap | $2.66 billion (#1 among tokenized gold assets) |
| Redemption | From 430 XAUT, physical bar delivery in Switzerland |
Every XAUT holder can verify the serial number, weight, and purity of the specific bar backing their tokens on the Tether Gold website - by entering their wallet address. Reserves are confirmed by quarterly BDO Italia attestations and Chainlink Proof of Reserve in real time. This is what separates XAUT from paper gold products like ETFs and futures, where there is no direct link to a specific bar.
See the full ranking of gold-backed tokens in Top 10 Gold-Backed Cryptocurrencies in 2026.
Why Avoid a Centralized Exchange for Tether Gold
When you keep XAUT on an exchange, the exchange holds the token on your behalf - and can freeze it, restrict access, or demand additional verification at any time. In a self-custody wallet, the token belongs to you directly - private keys are generated on your device and never shared with anyone.
For a full comparison of all tokenized gold buying methods, see How to Buy Gold With Cryptocurrency in 2026.
How to Buy XAUT: Credit Card or Crypto Swap
Without an exchange account, there are two ways to buy XAUT - which one you use depends on whether you already have crypto.
Buy With a Credit Card
For those who do not have crypto yet. You buy XAUT with a credit card through a built-in fiat provider - the token goes directly to your wallet without any exchange account. Providers may ask for verification depending on your country and purchase amount - this is a provider requirement, not the wallet’s.
Swap From Crypto
For those who already have USDT, USDC, or ETH. Swap to XAUT through a built-in DEX aggregator - no verification, no exchange, without leaving the app.
Step-by-Step: How to Buy XAUT in Gem Wallet
Gem Wallet is a mobile self-custody wallet with fully open-source code that supports XAUT and 100+ blockchains.
Download Gem Wallet: The wallet is available on iOS and Android. Gem Wallet does not ask for any personal information - no email, no phone number, no documents.
Create a Wallet: Save your 12-word secret phrase on paper. This is the only way to recover your wallet - never store it digitally.
Buy XAUT: Search for XAUT in the wallet and open the asset page. Tap Buy, enter the amount, and select a provider - MoonPay, Mercuryo, Cash App, Paybis, or another option. You can pay with a credit or debit card - Visa, Mastercard - or via Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other methods. The total amount including all fees is shown before you confirm. Gem Wallet supports providers in 150+ countries.
Buying Tether Gold (XAUT) with a credit card in Gem Wallet: search for XAUT, open asset page, enter amount and select a provider.
If you already have crypto on your wallet - for example USDT in ERC20 format - you can swap it directly to XAUT without leaving the app, using the built-in DEX aggregator.
Swap USDT ERC20 for XAUT in Gem Wallet
Fees and Limits: What to Know Before You Buy Tether Gold
Before you buy XAUT, here is what to expect in terms of costs, minimums, and verification requirements.
Card Fees: MoonPay charges around 4.5% per transaction, Mercuryo up to 3.95%. The exact amount is always shown before you confirm.
Issuer Fee: TG Commodities Limited charges 0.25% per year for storing the physical gold. Gem Wallet does not charge this fee.
Physical Redemption: The minimum threshold is 430 XAUT - one London Good Delivery bar (~13.3 kg of gold). Available directly through Tether Gold, not through the wallet.
Verification: Providers may ask for identity verification depending on your country and purchase amount. MoonPay and Mercuryo typically process small purchases without documents; larger amounts require a government-issued ID and a selfie. This is a provider requirement, not a Gem Wallet requirement.
XAUT Risks: What to Know Before You Buy
XAUT combines the stability of physical gold with the risks of a tokenized asset. Here is what to keep in mind.
Centralization: The physical gold is held by TG Commodities Limited - a Tether Holdings subsidiary. XAUT holders depend on the operational reliability of the issuer and the physical security of reserves in the Brinks and Loomis vaults.
Smart Contract: XAUT runs on ERC20 and TRC20. A critical vulnerability in the smart contract could theoretically affect transactions even if the physical reserves are fully intact.
Tax: In most jurisdictions, profits from selling XAUT are subject to capital gains tax - the same rules that apply to other crypto assets. Check local regulations before you sell.
Conclusion
Once you buy XAUT in Gem Wallet, the token is fully under your control. You can hold it as a long-term store of value that tracks the gold spot price 24/7. When you want to exit, sell XAUT back to fiat through the built-in providers - or swap it for USDC, ETH, or any other asset using the DEX aggregator. Or send a fraction of an ounce to anyone in the world in minutes - all from the same app, securely and privately.
