Deep Dive
1. CertiK RWA Report (21 August 2025)
Overview:
CertiK’s mid-2025 report highlighted PAXG as a top-five Real-World Asset (RWA) protocol, alongside BUIDL and Ondo Finance, in a sector now valued at $26B. The analysis emphasized PAXG’s compliance with legal frameworks, transparent reserve audits, and institutional-grade security.
What this means:
This reinforces PAXG’s credibility in the RWA space, which has grown 260% YTD. However, competition is intensifying, with Tether’s XAUT gaining ground. Institutional adoption of tokenized gold could drive long-term demand.
(Phemex)
2. XAUT Overtakes PAXG (11 August 2025)
Overview:
Tether minted $437M of XAUT tokens on 8 August, pushing its market cap 20% higher and overtaking PAXG as the largest tokenized gold asset. While PAXG’s user base remains seven times larger, XAUT’s holder count grew 173% in 2025 vs. PAXG’s 29%.
What this means:
PAXG faces competitive pressure despite its first-mover advantage. The narrowing gap reflects investor preference for diversified gold exposure but may test PAXG’s liquidity dominance.
(CoinMarketCap)
3. Gold Tariffs Spark Volatility (9 August 2025)
Overview:
U.S. tariffs on imported gold bars briefly sent COMEX futures to $3,534/oz on 8 August, lifting PAXG and XAUT. Prices later retreated after the White House clarified exemptions, but tokenized gold volumes hit $19B in Q2 2025, outpacing ETFs.
What this means:
PAXG remains sensitive to gold’s safe-haven demand during macro shocks. While tariffs introduced short-term noise, the broader shift toward tokenized gold as a hedge persists.
(Binance)
Conclusion
PAXG continues to anchor the RWA sector despite Tether’s aggressive XAUT expansion, while macro volatility underscores its role as a digital gold proxy. Will regulatory tailwinds for tokenized assets offset competitive pressures in H2 2025?