At the start of 2026, spot gold prices surged past $5,600, while silver prices saw a strong rally in January, breaking above the $84 mark. Both set new all-time highs before entering a phase of high-level consolidation. Meanwhile, more crypto investors began to ask the same question: How can you gain full exposure to precious metal prices directly from your digital wallet?
The extreme volatility in the cryptocurrency market has further fueled demand for safe-haven assets. Gate recognized this trend early, launching its dedicated Metals Trading Zone in January 2026. This new section breaks the traditional limitations of financial market trading hours, directly connecting gold, silver, and other precious metals to the liquidity ecosystem of the crypto world.
What assets are available in Gate’s Metals Trading Zone? Can you trade directly with USDT?
Gate Metals Trading Zone Overview: Tokenized Gold and Silver
As of May 25, 2026, the Gate Alpha Metals Zone (part of the xStocks section) primarily supports three types of tokenized metal assets:
- XAUT (Tether Gold): Issued by Tether, this tokenized gold asset is strictly pegged to physical gold reserves certified by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), with a 1:1 backing ratio.
- PAXG (PAX Gold): Issued by Paxos Trust Company, which operates under strict oversight from the New York State Department of Financial Services. PAXG is an ERC-20 token also backed 1:1 by physical gold. Each PAXG token represents one ounce of LBMA-approved gold stored in London vaults.
- SLVON (Tokenized iShares Silver Trust): Developed by Ondo Finance, SLVON is a tokenized silver asset that essentially brings the iShares Silver Trust on-chain, offering token holders economic exposure similar to holding SLV and receiving dividend distributions.
All three assets can be spot traded in the Gate Alpha Metals Zone. USDT-denominated perpetual contracts for these assets are also available and have been listed on Gate Perp DEX.
On the derivatives side, the Gate Metals Zone offers USDT perpetual contracts for a wide range of metal assets, including XAU/USDT (Gold Index), XAG/USDT (Silver Index), XPD/USDT (Palladium), XPT/USDT (Platinum), XCU/USDT (Copper), XAL/USDT (Aluminum), XNI/USDT (Nickel), and XPB/USDT (Lead).
Quick Reference Table: Margin and Leverage Settings for Contract Products
| Trading Pair | Asset Type | Settlement Currency |
|---|---|---|
| XAU/USDT | Gold Index | USDT |
| XAG/USDT | Silver Index | USDT |
| XAUT/USDT | Tokenized Gold | USDT |
| PAXG/USDT | Tokenized Gold | USDT |
| SLVON/USDT | Tokenized Silver | USDT |
| XPT/XPD | Platinum/Palladium | USDT |
| XCU/XAL | Copper/Aluminum | USDT |
Market Size and Price Linkage Efficiency of the Three Major Assets
The tokenized gold market experienced explosive growth in 2026. According to multiple institutions, market size expanded rapidly from about $1.3 billion in 2025 to over $6 billion. XAUT and PAXG dominate the tokenized gold sector. As of May 25, 2026, the price gap between on-chain gold and spot gold had narrowed to just a few dollars, demonstrating extremely efficient linkage between tokenized precious metals and the physical market.
For silver, SLVON’s popularity as a tokenized silver asset surged in early 2026. Silver prices broke above $84/oz in January and hit a record high of $117.44/oz before retracing. Still, its dual role as an industrial metal and safe-haven asset continues to attract significant capital.
USDT Direct Trading: Dual Access via Spot and Derivatives
Gate’s Metals Trading Zone clearly supports direct trading with USDT as the core settlement currency.
There are two main trading channels. For spot trading, users can search for XAUT/USDT, PAXG/USDT, or SLVON/USDT in the Gate Alpha Zone. Simply enter the amount of USDT to buy or sell tokenized gold or silver assets directly.
For derivatives trading, the Metals Zone offers USDT-settled perpetual contracts. The contract price index references composite prices from multiple leading precious metals markets, aiming to enhance pricing transparency and reduce manipulation risk. USDT is used as the margin currency, supporting both isolated and cross-margin modes, allowing flexible fund allocation within a single account.
Four Key Advantages of USDT Trading
- 24/7 Non-Stop Trading: While global precious metals markets are closed on weekends, Gate’s metals contracts are available year-round. When major macro events occur outside traditional trading hours, users can adjust positions or hedge risks anytime on Gate.
- No Need to Exit the Crypto Ecosystem: Users can allocate metal assets directly in USDT without converting funds to fiat or transferring to traditional brokers, greatly improving capital efficiency.
- Unified Margin System Across Multiple Products: All metal contracts use USDT as the margin base, supporting both isolated and cross-margin modes for flexible fund management within a single account.
- One-Stop Multi-Asset Coverage: From tokenized spot to high-leverage perpetual contracts, and from precious to industrial metals, all products are priced and settled in USDT, minimizing learning curve and usage barriers.
Trading Volume Performance
Industry data shows that metals-related derivatives on Gate consistently rank among the most active globally. XAUT contract 24-hour trading volume reached $122 million (up 13.08% week-over-week) and $192 million (third globally), underscoring Gate’s deep liquidity and strong user recognition in the metals space.
On the spot side, Gate’s XAUT/USDT 24-hour spot trading volume hit $9.71 million, ranking first worldwide; PAXG/USDT reached $7.11 million, ranking second globally, further cementing Gate’s leadership in tokenized precious metals spot trading.
For SLVON, when silver hit its all-time high in early 2026, SLVON-related products saw a 155% increase in 30-day market cap, with explosive growth in both market attention and participation.
Summary
Gate’s Metals Trading Zone now fully covers the three major tokenized precious metal assets: XAUT (gold), PAXG (gold), and SLVON (silver). It also extends to index contracts like XAU/USDT, XAG/USDT, XPD/USDT, XPT/USDT, as well as industrial metal perpetual contracts such as XCU/USDT, XAL/USDT, XNI/USDT, and XPB/USDT.
For USDT trading, Gate offers both spot and derivatives channels, with all metal products supporting direct USDT transactions. Settlement currency is unified as USDT, and fund transfers between Gate contract and funding accounts require no fiat conversion.
Tokenized gold and silver assets are evolving from niche crypto products into mainstream allocation tools. With 24/7 trading, a diverse product lineup, and convenient USDT-based settlement, Gate’s Metals Trading Zone provides an efficient gateway connecting traditional precious metals markets to the crypto ecosystem. Whether you’re a long-term investor seeking diversified asset allocation or a short-term trader capturing intraday price swings, Gate’s Metals Trading Zone offers the tools and strategies to fit your needs.
FAQ
Where can I find Gate’s Metals Trading Zone?
Open the Gate App, tap "Trade" in the bottom menu, switch the top market type to "Alpha," then select "xStocks Zone" under Alpha or simply enter XAUT, PAXG, or other token names in the search bar for quick access.
Can I buy XAUT or PAXG directly with USDT?
Yes. On the spot trading page of Gate Alpha Metals Zone, select the XAUT/USDT or PAXG/USDT trading pair, enter the USDT amount you wish to invest, and click "Buy" to complete the transaction. The system will automatically transfer USDT from your Gate account for settlement.
What’s the difference between XAUT and PAXG?
Both are 1:1 tokenized assets backed by physical gold, but differ in issuer and regulatory background. XAUT is issued by Tether, while PAXG is issued by Paxos under New York State financial regulation. Both offer ample trading liquidity on Gate.
What is the pricing benchmark for metals contracts?
Gate metals contracts use composite indices from multiple authoritative precious metals markets as pricing benchmarks, rather than relying on a single data source. This helps ensure contract prices remain closely linked to global spot markets and reduces pricing deviations.
