Tether Introduces New Gold-Backed Synthetic Dollar, “Alloy by Tether”

In a bold move to diversify its portfolio and reinforce its commitment to providing robust and stable financial products, Tether has launched a new synthetic dollar backed by gold. The announcement came on June 17, 2024, revealing that the new synthetic asset, Alloy by Tether—trading as aUSD₮ via smart contracts on the Ethereum Mainnet blockchain and created on Tether’s new platform, Alloy—will be pegged to the value of Tether Gold (XAU₮), a token that tracks the value of gold. 

Alloy by Tether is an open platform that allows the creation of collateralized synthetic digital assets, developed by Moon Gold NA, S.A. de C.V. and Moon Gold El Salvador, S.A. de C.V., the duo being members of the Tether Group.

What Sets aUSD₮ by Tether Apart?

The introduction of aUSD₮ by Tether is a significant development in the cryptocurrency world, as it combines the stability of traditional fiat currencies with the enduring value of gold. 

The aUSD₮ being over-collateralized by XAU₮—which means it’s backed by physical gold stored in Switzerland—and with a market capitalization of about $573 million, this interesting aUSD₮ XAU₮ duet is aimed at users who want to make transactions, payments, and remittances with a currency similar to the US dollar without having to sell their gold-backed digital asset—the company’s press release reveals.

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, emphasized the strategic importance of this new asset. Quoting a Wall Street Journal article in his tweet, he opined, “Stablecoins backed by dollars provide demand for U.S. public debt.” 

Key Features of Alloy by Tether

1. Gold-Backed Stability: Each aUSD₮ token is fully backed by physical gold, stored in secure vaults. This ensures that the token’s value remains stable, reflecting the price of gold, which has long been regarded as a safe haven in times of economic uncertainty.

2. Transparency and Trust: Tether has committed to maintaining high transparency standards with regular audits and public disclosures of its gold reserves. This move is aimed at bolstering investor confidence and ensuring the integrity of aUSD₮ tokens.

3. Accessibility and Liquidity: aUSD₮ will be available for trading on major cryptocurrency exchanges, offering users the flexibility to trade a gold-backed asset with the ease of digital currencies. This hybrid approach combines the best aspects of traditional and digital finance.

Strategic Implications

The launch of Alloy by Tether comes at a time when global economic instability has increased the demand for reliable and stable financial instruments. 

By leveraging the enduring value of gold, Tether aims to provide a robust alternative for investors looking to protect their wealth against inflation and currency devaluation.

Thus, it’s safe to say that this new offering highlights Tether’s ambitions to expand beyond its USDT stablecoin. USDT, a token with a market capitalization of $112.5 billion, tracks the value of the US dollar and is backed by reserves of US Treasury bills and other securities and investments.

Market Prospects

The introduction of Alloy by Tether is expected to have significant implications for the cryptocurrency market. By providing a gold-backed digital asset, Tether is likely to attract a new segment of investors who have been cautious about entering the crypto space due to concerns over volatility and lack of tangible backing.

Moreover, this move could pave the way for other stablecoin issuers to explore asset-backed digital currencies, further diversifying the options available to investors and enhancing the overall stability of the crypto market.