Binance has expanded its derivatives lineup by launching new perpetual futures contracts linked to gold and silver, giving crypto traders USDT-settled exposure to precious metals markets.
The exchange said on Thursday that the new gold and silver perpetual futures allow round-the-clock trading with no expiration date, extending Binance’s offerings beyond digital assets as investor demand grows for traditional safe-haven exposure.
The contracts are settled in Tether (USDT), enabling traders to gain on-chain exposure to movements in gold and silver prices without holding the physical metals. Listed under the symbols XAUUSDT and XAGUSDT, the products are designed to closely track the prices of gold and silver while connecting traditional financial markets with crypto-native trading infrastructure.
Binance said the launch is part of a broader strategy to introduce more traditional asset-linked derivatives in the future. The contracts are offered through Next Exchange Limited, a Binance entity regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority under the Abu Dhabi Global Market framework.
Jeff Li, vice president of product at Binance, described the launch as an important step in bridging traditional finance and crypto innovation, emphasizing the role of regulatory compliance and trust.
Other major exchanges offering precious metals–linked perpetual contracts include Coinbase, MEXC, BTCC, BingX, and Bybit, though Bybit currently offers only gold-based contracts.
Precious metals surge on safe-haven demand
The rollout follows a strong rally in precious metals, with both gold and silver reaching new all-time highs amid rising geopolitical tensions and a weaker U.S. dollar. In late December, gold prices climbed above $4,549 per ounce, while silver surged to around $83 per ounce, according to goldprice.org.
Over the past year, both metals significantly outperformed Bitcoin, which declined by roughly 5%. Gold gained about 67% during 2025, while silver rallied more than 150%. At the time of writing, gold was trading near $4,424 per ounce, with silver above $75.60.
Tokenized commodities also reached record highs in December, tracking the broader surge in precious metals markets.
Binance’s decision to settle the new contracts in USDT comes as Tether continues to expand its global footprint. While the company has opted not to seek authorization under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework, USDT has received regulatory recognition in several jurisdictions, including Abu Dhabi, where it is approved for use by regulated firms.
Binance has not yet confirmed whether the new gold and silver perpetual futures will be available to users in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom.
