Binance Launches USDT-Settled Gold and Silver Futures
Binance has launched regulated gold and silver perpetual futures settled in USDT, signaling a broader push to bring traditional safe-haven assets into crypto-native trading infrastructure.
Binance has taken another step toward blending traditional finance with digital asset markets by introducing gold- and silver-linked perpetual futures contracts, allowing traders to gain exposure to precious metals without leaving the crypto ecosystem. The move comes as demand for safe-haven assets grows and crypto exchanges increasingly look beyond purely digital instruments for growth.
Announced on Thursday, Jan. 8, the new products enable 24/7 trading with no expiration date, a defining feature of perpetual futures. Rather than providing ownership of physical metals, the contracts offer onchain price exposure, settled entirely in Tether’s USDT stablecoin.
Gold and Silver Come Onchain
The new contracts, listed as XAUUSDT for gold and XAGUSDT for silver, are designed to closely track the spot prices of the two metals. Binance described the launch as part of a wider effort to connect traditional asset classes with crypto trading rails, adding that additional asset-linked contracts are already in the pipeline.
Unlike earlier experiments with synthetic assets, Binance emphasized the regulated nature of these instruments. The perpetual futures are offered through Nest Exchange Limited, a Binance entity licensed under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) framework and overseen by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA).
According to the exchange, regulatory clarity is central to the strategy. Jeff Li, Binance’s vice president of product, framed the launch as a milestone in the exchange’s evolving product roadmap.
“The launch of TradFi Perpetual Contracts marks a key step in bridging traditional finance and crypto innovation,” Li said, adding that the products are backed by “strong regulatory compliance and trust.”
Growing Competition in Metal-Linked Derivatives
Binance is not alone in expanding derivatives tied to traditional assets. Several major exchanges already offer similar products, reflecting a broader industry shift.
Competitors providing precious metals–linked perpetual contracts include:
- Coinbase
- MEXC
- BTCC
- BingX
- Bybit, which currently offers only gold-linked perpetuals
The growing list underscores how crypto-native platforms are competing to attract traders interested in commodities, particularly during periods of heightened macroeconomic uncertainty.
A Strategic Pivot Beyond Digital Assets
The launch fits into a wider pattern of crypto exchanges diversifying beyond tokens. In December, Binance API updates hinted at preparations for stock-linked perpetual futures, suggesting a longer-term strategy to tokenize or synthetically represent traditional markets through derivatives.
This approach mirrors a broader industry trend toward real-world asset (RWA) integration, where blockchain infrastructure is increasingly used to provide access to equities, commodities, and other offchain assets.
Research published in late 2025 showed that onchain representations of stocks and commodities surpassed $1 billion in total assets, highlighting growing demand for blockchain-based exposure to traditional financial instruments.
Market Rotation Signals Support the Move
Binance’s timing also coincides with shifting capital flows across asset classes. According to CryptoQuant founder Ki Young Ju, interest in Bitcoin has cooled compared with previous cycles, while equities and commodities have attracted more attention.
Ju recently pointed to a rotation in investor behavior, writing:
“Money just rotated to stocks and shiny rocks.”
He added that a sharp crypto drawdown appears unlikely, suggesting instead that markets may enter a period of sideways trading over the coming months. Such a scenario would break from historical trends, as January has typically been positive for Bitcoin, delivering an average return of 3.8% since 2013.
Against this backdrop, providing crypto traders with seamless access to commodities like gold and silver may help exchanges retain activity even as digital asset momentum slows.
Precious Metals Hit Record Highs
The launch also follows a powerful rally in precious metals markets. Gold and silver both reached new all-time highs in December, driven by geopolitical tensions and a weakening U.S. dollar.
According to data from goldprice.org:
- Gold peaked above $4,549 per ounce on Dec. 26
- Silver reached $83 per ounce on Dec. 28
Both assets significantly outperformed Bitcoin over the past year. While Bitcoin declined by about 5%, gold surged 67%, and silver posted an even stronger 152% rally during 2025. At the time of writing, gold was trading around $4,461 per ounce, while silver was changing hands above $76.17.
The rally extended into digital markets as well, with tokenized commodities also reaching new all-time highs in December, reflecting rising interest in blockchain-based commodity exposure.
Why USDT Settlement Matters
Binance’s decision to settle the new contracts in USDT underscores the stablecoin’s central role in global crypto trading. Despite regulatory headwinds in some regions, Tether continues to expand its footprint.
The company has notably opted not to seek authorization under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, citing concerns about how the rules apply to stablecoins. At the same time, USDT has gained regulatory recognition in other jurisdictions, including Abu Dhabi, where it is approved for use by regulated entities—aligning closely with Binance’s ADGM-licensed structure.
A Broader Shift in Crypto’s Role
Binance’s gold and silver perpetual futures highlight how crypto infrastructure is evolving beyond its original boundaries. Rather than competing solely with traditional markets, exchanges are increasingly replicating and extending them onchain, offering continuous trading, stablecoin settlement, and global accessibility.
As capital rotates between digital assets, equities, and commodities, the ability to access all three through a single crypto-native platform may become a defining feature of the next market cycle. Binance’s latest launch suggests that, for major exchanges, the future of growth lies not only in new tokens—but in reimagining how traditional assets are traded in a blockchain-driven financial system.
