Binance launches gold and silver perpetuals
Binance said Thursday it has introduced gold (XAUUSDT) and silver (XAGUSDT) perpetual futures contracts settled in Tether’s USDT stablecoin, giving crypto traders round-the-clock exposure to precious metals markets without expiration dates or physical delivery.
The new contracts allow users to trade price movements in gold and silver 24/7, using crypto-native infrastructure to access traditional commodities. Binance positioned the products as part of a broader push to bridge traditional finance and digital asset markets as investor demand grows for tokenized exposure to real-world assets.
The contracts are offered under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) framework through Binance entity Next Exchange Limited, which is regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). Binance vice president of product Jeff Li said the launch represents a “key step” toward integrating traditional asset classes into crypto markets while maintaining regulatory compliance.
Binance’s expansion into metals derivatives comes as gold and silver prices surge to all-time highs, driven by geopolitical tensions, inflation hedging and a weakening U.S. dollar.
Gold climbed above $4,549 per ounce in late December, while silver topped $83 per ounce, according to industry data. Both assets significantly outperformed Bitcoin in 2025, with gold rising 67% and silver rallying 152%, compared with BTC’s roughly 5% decline over the same period.
The rally has also fueled interest in tokenized commodities and crypto-denominated exposure to safe-haven assets, positioning Binance’s metals perpetuals to capture traders rotating capital between crypto and traditional markets.
Competition heats up as USDT expands its role
Binance joins a growing list of exchanges — including Coinbase, MEXC, BTCC, BingX and Bybit — offering precious metals-linked perpetual contracts, though most competitors currently focus only on gold. By offering both gold and silver products, Binance is widening its reach into commodity derivatives as demand for alternative hedges increases.
The decision to settle the contracts in USDT reflects Tether’s continued expansion across global trading venues. While USDT has declined authorization under the European Union’s MiCA framework, it has gained regulatory recognition in jurisdictions such as Abu Dhabi, strengthening its role as a settlement layer for tokenized markets.
Binance said additional traditional asset-linked contracts are planned, though the exchange has not yet clarified jurisdictional availability, including whether the products will be offered in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom.
As precious metals rally and investors seek diversification beyond crypto-native assets, Binance’s move signals a deeper push into crypto-based access to traditional safe havens, blurring the line between commodities trading and digital asset markets.