Key Takeaways
- Tether launches XAUt0, a gold-backed stablecoin on TON, expanding digital gold access across blockchains.
- Built on LayerZero’s OFT standard, XAUt0 allows seamless, secure, cross-chain transfers without wrapping tokens.
- The launch aligns with rising gold demand and enhances TON’s ecosystem with new decentralized finance options.
The OFT standard is an Omnichain Fungible Token laid out by LayerZero. The native interoperability among blockchain networks will henceforth be ensured, thereby becoming an important feature that will enhance the asset’s mobility within different ecosystems.
In comparison to traditional bridge solutions, the OFT framework reduces risk since there are no intermediary chains or synthetic representations involved. XAUt0 is derived from Tether’s existing stablecoin XAUt, which represents ownership of physical gold held in Swiss vaults.
Currently available solely on Ethereum, XAUt has surpassed $832 million in circulation, making it the leading tokenized gold asset by market capitalization. With this launch, Tether hopes to stretch its digital commodity offering across several blockchains without the need for token wrapping or bridging protocols.
Tether’s LayerZero OFT Enables Seamless Cross-Chain
The technology behind XAUt0 is LayerZero’s Omnichain Fungible Token (OFT) standard. This standard provides native interoperability among blockchain networks, an important attribute for increasing asset mobility between economies.
The OFT framework differs from legacy bridge solutions as it avoids risk through the removal of intermediary chains and synthetic representations. This move positions XAUt0 not only as a stablecoin but also as an infrastructural asset for multichain DeFi.
It targets investors looking for a stable asset related to physical gold while crossing platform applications. With dApps catching up on TON, the launch of XAUt0 thereby adds to the network’s functionality while making it more attractive to institutional and retail users.
Strategic Timing Amid Market Demand for Gold
The launch is taking place at a time when the demand for gold around the world is increasing, propelled by its use as an inflation hedge and uncertainty factor coming from geopolitical tensions.
Compared to the same time last year, gold prices have climbed roughly 30%, and top-performing ETFs have delivered strong returns. Tether’s move to omnichain gold tokenization comes at a time of increasing investor demand for safe, blockchain-backed commodity exposure.
While Tether has not announced any other blockchain support besides TON, the XAUt0 launch opens the door to multichain deployment down the line. With tokenized physical assets in increasing demand, Tether’s strategy could change access to and integration of digital gold throughout blockchain platforms.
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