Gold-backed stablecoins promise the best of both worlds: the resilience of bullion with the programmability of crypto. Yet “gold on-chain” isn’t one thing—issuers, vaulting, redemption rights, audits and networks differ widely. Here’s a quick look at the top 5 gold stablecoins you can actually use in 2026, plus a quick comparison table to help you decide what fits your portfolio or product.
1) PAX Gold (PAXG)
What it is. PAXG is issued by Paxos Trust Company, a regulated New York trust. Each token represents one fine troy ounce of London Good Delivery gold held in professional vaults, with the holder owning the underlying metal (not just an IOU). Paxos offers conversions between dollars, unallocated and allocated gold and PAXG via its platform.
Why it stands out. Clear title to specific bars (with serial-number lookups), institutional-grade custody and well-documented terms make PAXG the benchmark for “tokenized gold” in the U.S. regulatory context. Paxos summarizes the proposition plainly: PAXG’s value tracks the real-time gold price because it represents actual allocated bullion.
Good for: Investors who want direct bar ownership via a token and institutions that need a regulated issuer and clear redemption workflows.
2) Tether Gold (XAUT)
What it is. Tether Gold (XAU₮) represents one troy ounce of physical gold per token, with gold allocated in Swiss vaults. Holders have undivided ownership rights to the specified bars and can reference serial numbers; the product launched in 2020 via TG Commodities.
Why it stands out. Tether’s gold footprint has grown alongside its broader commodity ambitions, and media have noted the company’s significant gold holdings and interest in the sector—context that matters for liquidity and awareness of XAUT. Still, as with any issuer, you should read the FAQs and documentation closely to understand redemption logistics and fees.
Good for: Users who want exposure to allocated Swiss vault gold with the distribution reach of the Tether ecosystem.
3) Kinesis Gold (KAU)
What it is. KAU is a 1-gram gold-backed currency in the Kinesis monetary system. Kinesis says all KAU is backed 1:1 by fully allocated bullion, with independent audits published on a regular cadence. The Kinesis site lists audit reports and explains the reserve setup and vaulting arrangements.
Why it stands out. The gram-based denomination makes KAU practical for payments and smaller amounts, while the audit cadence (e.g., independent checks in late 2025) gives users recurring visibility into backing.
Good for: People who want spendable gold (micropayments, remittances) and businesses experimenting with gold-denominated rails.
4) Aurus tGOLD (tXAU)
What it is. tGOLD (tXAU) represents 1 gram of gold per token, fully backed and insured, with storage in audited vaults. Aurus positions tGOLD for Web3 use cases, liquidity pools and programmable finance across Ethereum/Polygon, with a broader ecosystem around tokenized precious metals.
Why it stands out. Straightforward gram-based economics, multi-chain issuance and an ecosystem focus (DeFi, payments, NFTs) make tXAU interesting for builders who want gold as collateral or yield-adjacent strategies without leaving the crypto stack.
Good for: Web3 users and developers who need interoperable, gram-denominated gold across chains.
5) DGLD (Digital Gold)
What it is. DGLD is a Swiss-origin token historically structured so that each token equals 1/10 of a troy ounce of gold vaulted in Switzerland. The project—initially a collaboration involving CoinShares, MKS (PAMP) and Blockchain—has emphasized Swiss custody and institutional distribution.
Why it stands out. DGLD leans into the “Swiss private banking” style of tokenized bullion—fractional ounces, Swiss vaulting and a focus on institutional channels—useful if you want European infrastructure and smaller-than-ounce increments without switching to grams.
Good for: Investors who prefer Swiss custody and ounce-fraction exposure with potential institutional on-ramps.
Quick comparison
| Token | Unit Backing | Vault/Custody (summary) | Redemption Notes | Primary Chains | Notable Proof / Docs |
| PAXG | 1 troy ounce | LBMA-good bars in professional vaults under Paxos Trust | Convert between USD, unallocated/allocated gold & PAXG via Paxos platform | Ethereum (primary) | Paxos product page & T&Cs (ownership, conversions) |
| XAUT | 1 troy ounce | Allocated gold in Swiss vaults (serial-number lookups) | Ownership rights to specified bars; see FAQ for redemption details | Ethereum (and others via bridges/wrappers) | Official XAUT site & FAQ |
| KAU | 1 gram | Fully allocated bullion; independent audits | Gold-currency model; redemption via Kinesis processes | Kinesis ecosystem (multi-platform) | Kinesis audits & product pages |
| tGOLD (tXAU) | 1 gram | Audited & insured vaults | Programmatic DeFi integrations; see Aurus docs | Ethereum, Polygon (focus) | Aurus tGOLD page |
| DGLD | 0.1 troy ounce | Switzerland-vaulted bullion | Institutional tilt; check distributor/exchange listings | Various (per issuer) | DGLD site; background launch notes |
How to choose: a simple playbook
- Decide your unit of account. If you think in ounces, PAXG and XAUT are natural. If you want smaller, spendable chunks, KAU and tXAU (1 gram each) or DGLD (0.1 oz) make more sense.
- Check redemption and legal title. “Backed” isn’t enough—who owns the bar and how do you redeem? Paxos spells out legal ownership and conversion flows; Tether details allocation/serials and Swiss vaulting in its FAQ. Kinesis and Aurus describe vaulting plus audits/insurance; DGLD emphasizes Swiss custody. Read the fine print before you buy.
- Look for proof. Prefer tokens with audits, attestations or bar-lookup tools. Kinesis publishes independent audits; PAXG and XAUT provide transparency on bar allocation/custody.
- Match the chain to your use case. If your DeFi stack lives on Ethereum or Polygon, PAXG and tXAU integrate smoothly. If you’re building gold-denominated payments, the KAU ecosystem is purpose-built.
Key risks to keep in view
- Issuer & custody risk. “Fully backed” still concentrates trust in the issuer, custodian and vault. Prefer clear legal structures (trust company, regulated entities) and allocated bars over pooled promises. PAXG and XAUT both spell out bar-level details; KAU/tXAU publish audit info.
- Regulatory drift. Stablecoin rules are evolving. Media have covered Tether’s growing gold exposure and policy crosswinds; changes to how tokenized commodities are treated can affect market access.
- Liquidity & integrations. Check where the token trades and how easily it plugs into your wallet, exchange, or exchange Bitcoin flow. Ounce-based tokens (PAXG, XAUT) often have deeper books; gram tokens (KAU, tXAU) shine in payments/DeFi niches.
Conclusion
Whatever you pick, treat tokenized gold like any other financial product: read the redemption terms, verify vaulting/audits, and choose the chain and integrations that match your actual workflow in crypto markets. Do that, and you’ll capture what makes gold stablecoins compelling in 2026—real-world value, programmable money—without getting lost in marketing spin.