The crypto market is moving fast with three major updates: Tether’s gold investment, USDC becoming available on the XRP Ledger, and Hong Kong’s push to fight crypto crime. These events highlight how blockchain, finance, and regulation are rapidly becoming more connected.
Tether Invests $89M in Gold Royalty Company for Stable Exposure
Tether, the company behind USDT—the most widely used stablecoin—has taken a significant step to diversify its holdings. It acquired a 32% stake in Elemental Altus Royalties, a publicly traded Canadian gold royalty firm. The deal, worth approximately $89.4 million, involved purchasing over 78 million shares at CA$1.55 per share from La Mancha Investments.
Unlike direct mining investments, gold royalty firms offer low-risk exposure to global gold production. Tether’s move is part of a broader strategy to strengthen its backing with stable, long-term assets such as gold and Bitcoin.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino described the investment as part of a “forward-looking strategy” aimed at enhancing the company’s financial resilience. The investment also supports Tether’s gold-backed stablecoin, XAUt, which has grown to a market cap of $854 million according to CoinGecko, making it the largest gold-pegged stablecoin currently in circulation.
Tether’s broader strategy includes investments beyond digital assets. The company has already allocated capital into Bitcoin, fintech firms, and other ventures, reflecting a strong profit year and expansion into traditional sectors.
USDC Now Supported on XRP Ledger After Circle IPO Milestone
Circle’s USDC stablecoin—the second-largest by market cap—is now fully supported on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The move comes shortly after Circle’s successful IPO, where its share price surged nearly 200% from the initial listing, showing strong investor confidence.
The addition of USDC improves XRPL’s liquidity and expands stablecoin access for users. XRPL, known for its high-speed transactions and low fees, is closely tied to cross-border payment provider Ripple and continues to attract enterprise and institutional attention.
With support now included on Circle Mint and its developer APIs, institutions, fintech apps, and wallets can use USDC natively on XRPL—no bridges or wrapped tokens required. This improves efficiency and makes it easier for firms to adopt stablecoin payments across borders.
Looking ahead, the XRP Ledger is preparing to activate an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) sidechain, expected in Q2 2025, which will expand smart contract capabilities and further strengthen XRPL’s appeal.
As of now, XRP ranks fourth among all cryptocurrencies, trading at $2.24 with a daily volume of $2.2 billion.
Hong Kong Advances Crypto Oversight With New Monitoring Tool
Hong Kong authorities are stepping up their efforts to tackle crypto-related money laundering by developing a blockchain transaction tracking system. The system is being developed by the University of Hong Kong in partnership with the Customs and Excise Department.
The goal is to create a tool that can detect suspicious crypto transactions more effectively. According to Assistant Commissioner Mario Wong Ho-yin, cross-sector cooperation between academia, law enforcement, and the finance industry is key to tackling modern digital crimes.
Between 2021 and May 2025, Hong Kong authorities investigated 39 major money laundering cases, with seven involving cryptocurrency. In a recent example, three individuals were charged for using digital assets to move over $229 million.
This initiative will also support broader regional cooperation through workshops and cross-border training, making Hong Kong a potential model for crypto crime enforcement across Asia.
Why This Matters for the Crypto Market
These developments reflect the maturing landscape of digital finance:
Tether is backing its stablecoin ecosystem with real-world assets like gold.
USDC’s presence on XRP Ledger broadens stablecoin use across more efficient blockchain networks.
Hong Kong’s regulatory actions show that governments are getting smarter and faster in their approach to crypto crime.
Together, these changes illustrate a trend: Crypto is increasingly integrating with the traditional financial world, with stronger regulation and broader use in institutional finance.
Final Thoughts
Whether it’s Tether reinforcing stability with gold or USDC expanding across blockchain networks, it’s clear that crypto is evolving. Add to that Hong Kong’s rapid progress on anti-money laundering, and we’re witnessing a shift toward a more structured, regulated, and interoperable digital finance ecosystem.
The future of crypto doesn’t just live on-chain—it now spans courtrooms, financial boardrooms, and government offices across the globe.
A finance graduate, Maheen Hernandez has been drawn to cryptocurrencies ever since Bitcoin first emerged in 2009. Nearly a decade later, Maheen is actively working to spread awareness about cryptocurrencies as well as their impact on the traditional currencies. Appreciate the work? Send a tip to: 0x75395Ea9a42d2742E8d0C798068DeF3590C5Faa5
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