BTCC gold trading surpasses $5.7 billion, and tokenized gold trading in 2025 is set to enter a breakout year

2025 is the turning point for tokenized gold trading. A recent report from BTCC Exchange shows that its total gold trading volume for the year reached $5.72 billion, with the fourth quarter being the hottest period, experiencing a 809% surge in trading volume compared to the first quarter. This increase clearly indicates a profound shift in market perception of gold trading methods.

As industry observers, we note that the driving forces behind this growth are no accident. Geopolitical tensions and policy uncertainties continue to push up gold prices, while tokenized gold trading—with its unique advantages of 24/7 trading, faster settlement, and borderless accessibility—is becoming a strong alternative to traditional gold investments.

Why Did Tokenized Gold Trading Hit a Record High?

The entire tokenized gold market performed remarkably well in 2025. According to CEX.IO data, the market size of tokenized gold assets grew from $1.6 billion to $4.4 billion, a 177% increase. This means the growth rate of tokenized gold far outpaced physical gold by 2.6 times—a striking comparison.

The total annual trading volume of tokenized gold surpassed $178 billion, with the fourth quarter alone contributing $126 billion, accounting for a large portion of the yearly activity. Even more notable, over 115,000 new wallet addresses entered this space—14 times more than in 2024—demonstrating rapid market participation expansion.

From an investment product ranking perspective, tokenized gold, based on trading volume, has risen to become the second-largest gold investment product globally, only behind SPDR Gold Shares. This ranking shift reflects how tokenization is gradually transforming the entire gold market landscape. Notably, tokenized gold trading also became a significant contributor to the growth of real-world assets (RWA) in 2025, accounting for about 25% of RWA net growth.

How Three Perpetual Futures Products Are Driving Innovation in Gold Trading

BTCC’s leadership in the tokenized gold trading space is largely due to its offering of three different types of perpetual futures products, each catering to different trader needs.

First is GOLDUSDT, which directly tracks the spot gold price, suitable for traders seeking direct exposure and hedging strategies. Next is PAXGUSDT (PAX Gold), issued by Paxos under the regulatory framework of the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). Each token is backed by one troy ounce of physical gold and operates on the Ethereum blockchain, providing high security for risk-averse investors.

The third is XAUTUSDT, issued by Tether, designed specifically for circulation within the crypto market. Also backed by physical gold, it offers on-chain transferability and flexibility for decentralized finance (DeFi) integration, opening new gold trading avenues for DeFi participants.

The differentiated design of these three products exemplifies how gold trading is increasingly segmented within the crypto ecosystem. BTCC’s data shows that in 2025, these products contributed $5.72 billion in trading volume, about 10.7% of its total tokenized futures trading volume of $53.1 billion. Although a smaller proportion, their growth rate is the most astonishing.

Institutional Demand Drives Expansion of Tokenized Gold Trading

As blockchain-based financial products gain increasing acceptance among institutional investors, BTCC positions itself as a bridge connecting crypto trading with tokenized real-world assets. The success of gold trading is just the beginning.

Fundamentally, central banks’ continued gold purchases sustain market vitality. JPMorgan’s latest forecast indicates that another 755 tons of gold will be withdrawn from the market in 2026, with gold prices potentially reaching $5,000 per ounce—providing a solid foundation for long-term growth in gold trading.

Facing these market opportunities, BTCC is actively planning expansion strategies. Senior executives have stated that the scope of tokenization extends far beyond gold; commodities and traditional financial products are also under consideration. BTCC aims to leverage its experience and infrastructure in gold trading to gradually expand tokenization to a broader range of assets, enabling traders worldwide to access more diversified trading opportunities.

This strategic shift reflects an upgrade in market perception—tokenization is no longer just an innovation for a specific asset class but a systemic transformation reshaping the entire financial asset trading landscape. The explosive growth in gold trading is just the prelude to this revolution, with more possibilities gradually unfolding in the future.