On January 8, 2026, Binance unveiled new perpetual futures contracts for gold and silver that are settled in USDT, marking a significant expansion into the realm of precious metals. This move is part of Binance's strategic effort to broaden its derivatives market offerings beyond just digital currencies, addressing the rising interest in traditional safe-haven assets.
The new gold and silver contracts, designated as XAUUSDT and XAGUSDT, allow for around-the-clock trading without expiration dates, providing investors with a unique on-chain alternative to direct asset ownership. These contracts are designed to mirror the price movements of gold and silver, thereby facilitating interaction between traditional finance markets and the crypto trading ecosystem.
According to Binance, the introduction of these contracts represents a pivotal move towards integrating conventional financial markets with cryptocurrency innovation. Jeff Li, Binance's Vice President of Product, emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance, noting that these contracts are regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) under the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) framework.
Notably, other platforms like Coinbase, MEXC, BTCC, BingX, and Bybit also offer precious metals-linked perpetual contracts, although Bybit currently limits its offerings to gold.
The launch of Binance's new contracts coincides with a surge in demand for precious metals, driven by geopolitical uncertainties and a declining US dollar. In December, gold and silver prices soared to record highs, with gold peaking at $4,549 per ounce and silver reaching $83 per ounce, according to goldprice.org. Over the past year, gold and silver have dramatically outperformed Bitcoin, with gains of 67% and 152% respectively.
The decision to settle these contracts in Tether's USDT comes as Tether continues to solidify its presence in the market. While it has opted out of seeking approval under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework due to concerns about stablecoin regulations, USDT has received legal recognition in certain areas, including Abu Dhabi.
Cointelegraph has sought further clarification from Binance regarding the availability of these contracts in regions such as the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom, but no response was available at the time of publication. This development reinforces Binance’s commitment to expanding its reach into traditional financial markets while maintaining a foundation in cryptocurrency technology.