A big investor shifted funds into tokenized gold this week, and Bitcoin felt the influence. Costs dipped whereas a whale quietly purchased tens of millions in XAUT, a gold-backed token, signaling a short-term transfer towards conventional hedges.
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Whales Transfer Into Tokenized Gold
In response to on-chain trackers, one handle moved $1.53 million in USDC into Hyperliquid to purchase XAUT. Reviews word that the identical pockets had earlier purchased about 481 XAUT, a purchase order value roughly $2.38 million.
The handle nonetheless holds near $1.44 million in USDC, which suggests extra purchases may observe. These strikes have been picked up on public blockchains after which flagged by analysts watching massive transfers.
This sort of motion can matter. When huge gamers shuffle money, smaller merchants typically take discover and hedge their bets. The shift just isn’t proof of a long-term pattern, but it surely reveals that, no less than for now, some massive holders desire gold publicity over additional crypto danger.
Whales are shopping for gold, not crypto.
~30 minutes in the past, whale 0x6B99 deposited 1.53M $USDC into Hyperliquid to purchase $XAUT once more.
He has already purchased 481.6 $XAUT($2.38M) and nonetheless holds 1.44M $USDC, which can be used to purchase extra $XAUT.https://t.co/0uV2kNEiD0 pic.twitter.com/rYA09b1OEn
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) January 23, 2026
Gold And Silver Hit Recent Highs
Reviews say gold has been shifting sharply greater, with spot costs climbing near $5,000 per ounce in world buying and selling this week. Silver additionally rose above $100 per ounce, with intraday gold prints close to $4,988 earlier than settling.
Merchants tie the surge to geopolitical tensions and the concept that rates of interest could ease, which inspires cash into metal-based shops of worth.
A weaker greenback has additionally helped. Market chatter factors to elevated demand as traders search steadier locations to park capital whereas world politics and coverage decisions create extra fear.
Bitcoin’s Value Motion And Market Temper
Bitcoin traded round $88,653 at one stage, slipping about 1% on the day and practically 30% beneath its prior cycle high. That hole is massive. It has market members questioning whether or not BTC will keep the go-to hedge throughout occasions of excessive stress. Some long-term holders stay assured. Others are watching liquidity and macro alerts extra carefully.
Reviews have disclosed renewed criticism from economist Peter Schiff, who argued that Bitcoin has underperformed versus gold since 2021.
He highlighted the chance value for traders holding BTC whereas metals climb to document costs. Schiff wrote on social platforms that treasured metals are outperforming and that this weak run for Bitcoin weakens its function as a retailer of worth within the eyes of some.
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What This Means For Crypto Buyers
Quick-term rotations like this typically replicate danger preferences relatively than everlasting shifts. Some funds and rich people search lower-volatility property when headlines develop louder and coverage paths look unsure.
Others nonetheless view Bitcoin as a long-term play tied to shortage and community results. The present image is a combination: metals are sturdy, tokenized gold is drawing consideration, and crypto markets are reacting.
Featured picture from Pexels, chart from TradingView
