PANews reported on May 4th that, according to official data disclosed by Tether, Tether Gold (XAUT) continued its expansion in the first quarter of 2026, with its total market capitalization exceeding $3.3 billion. This growth was driven by record-high gold prices and increased macroeconomic uncertainty, leading to a significant rise in investor demand for safe-haven assets. Tether's quarterly data shows that its underlying gold reserves increased by 36% quarter-over-quarter, reaching approximately 707,747 ounces as of March 31st. This corresponds to a 1:1 peg to gold in circulation for XAU₮ tokens, with a total market capitalization of approximately $3.303 billion. Compared to approximately 520,000 ounces of reserves at the end of 2025, the significant increase in gold holdings this quarter reflects a continued inflow of funds into physical gold digital products.