BlockchainReporter Weekly News Review: Stocks and Gold Go Onchain

This week in crypto was important as traditional finance blended with decentralized finance. Major players advanced the integration of traditional finance with blockchain innovation. Tether Gold expanded its physical reserves. Strategy unveiled a high-yield preferred stock IPO tied to Bitcoin accumulation, while Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon pushed tokenization further into the $7.1T money market fund space. As tokenized assets, stablecoins, and equities converge, this signals a growing shift toward on-chain financial infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Anchorage Digital debuted the first GENIUS Act-compliant stablecoin platform. The top crypto exchange Binance launched a revamped referral program with industry-leading commissions.

Tether Gold Adds 7.66 Tons to Reserves as Demand for Tokenized Assets Grows

Tether Gold (XAU₮), a leading gold-backed digital asset, expanded its reserves to 7.66 tons in Q2 2025, This addition brings the total backing to 246,524 ounces of physical gold stored in Switzerland. Each XAU₮ token represents one fine troy ounce, fully compliant with London Good Delivery standards. With gold trading at $3,303.14 per ounce at the end of June, XAU₮ holds a market cap of $814.3 million, supported by $617.3 million in backing for 186.8M circulating tokens. An additional 59.6M tokens are backed by $197 million in physical reserves.

As global institutions turn to commodities amid economic uncertainty, gold tokenization is gaining traction. Tether Gold’s structure offers investors blockchain-based exposure to a stable, audited asset class. The asset is fully regulated under El Salvador’s Digital Asset Issuance Law. Amid rising inflation and fiat volatility, XAU₮ illustrates how traditional stores of value are merging with decentralized finance, offering a modern hedge through blockchain.

Strategy to Launch IPO for 9% Yielding Perpetual Preferred Stock

Strategy (Nasdaq: MSTR) has announced an initial public offering of its Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, branded as STRC Stock. The offering includes 5 million shares, each with a $100 face value and an initial 9% annual dividend, paid monthly starting August 31, 2025. The dividend rate may adjust but cannot fall below the one-month SOFR or be cut by more than 0.25%.

Proceeds will support corporate activities including Bitcoin purchases and general working capital. Strategy retains redemption rights at $101 per share, provided at least $250 million in STRC remains outstanding. The stock also includes provisions for repurchase in cases of major structural changes or tax events.

Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon Move to Tokenize $7.1T in Money Market Funds

Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon are teaming up to tokenize money market funds, a $7.1 trillion asset class traditionally used for liquidity management. The initiative allows institutional clients to hold tokenized shares on a blockchain while BNY Mellon maintains parallel traditional records, bridging digital and legacy finance systems.

Major asset managers including BlackRock, Fidelity, and Federated Hermes have joined the project, which aims to reduce settlement times, improve transparency, and enable real-time ownership tracking. Unlike stablecoins, these tokenized funds generate yield and can be used as collateral in financial transactions.

Anchorage Digital Launches First GENIUS Act-Compliant Stablecoin Platform with USDtb

Anchorage Digital, the U.S.-chartered crypto bank, has launched a stablecoin issuance platform aligned with the GENIUS Act. Its first partner, Ethena Labs, will now issue the USDtb stablecoin onshore under federal oversight, marking the first stablecoin built fully within U.S. regulatory frameworks. Previously issued offshore, USDtb now operates through Anchorage’s banking infrastructure, giving institutions access to a compliant digital dollar without relying on foreign entities.

Anchorage’s platform offers a legal, turnkey solution for U.S. institutions to issue stablecoins, integrating seamlessly with existing financial systems. The GENIUS Act provides regulatory clarity, allowing Anchorage to pioneer stablecoin issuance under strict compliance. Anchorage plans to expand the platform to support additional issuers under U.S. law.

Binance Unveils Revamped Referral Program with 50% Commission and No Earning Limits

Binance is launching an upgraded Referral & Affiliate Program on August 1, offering up to 50% commission with no caps or time restrictions. CEO Richard Teng called it a move toward greater inclusivity and transparency, designed to boost passive earning opportunities for users.

The overhaul removes previous limitations, simplifies onboarding, and lowers entry barriers making it easier for newcomers and professionals alike to benefit. Real-time commission tracking via automated tools is also being introduced. With this, Binance expects the program to attract a wide range of affiliates, including content creators and influencers, to help expand its global reach.

As traditional and decentralized finance continue to merge, this week’s developments show a clear push toward regulated, tokenized infrastructure. From Tether Gold’s expanding reserves to Strategy’s Bitcoin-aligned stock offering and Goldman’s entry into on-chain money markets, the shift is no longer theoretical, it’s operational. With Anchorage Digital bringing stablecoin issuance under U.S. law and Binance unlocking affiliate-driven growth, the financial future is increasingly on-chain, transparent, and programmable.