International News
94 tonnes of tokenized gold moved instantly for 0.0016% in fees
94 tonnes of tokenized gold ( XAUt ) was moved instantly for 0.0016% in fees over the last 6 months – while central banks spend millions of dollars to move their bullion
That comparison, recently highlighted by Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino in February 2026, perfectly captures the “analog vs. digital” divide in modern finance.
Moving 94 tonnes of physical gold is a logistical nightmare involving armored convoys, specialized aircraft, and massive insurance premiums. Doing the same with Tether Gold (XAUt) is essentially just updating a ledger on a blockchain.
While the efficiency is undeniable, it is worth noting that central banks aren’t switching to XAUt just yet for one primary reason: Sovereignty. Central banks move gold to ensure they have physical possession within their own borders during geopolitical crises. For them, the “millions spent” is an insurance policy against systemic collapse. However, for every other use case—trading, hedging, and payments—the 0.0016% fee makes a very compelling argument for tokenization.
The efficiency gap between tokenized assets and legacy bullion logistics is most evident when comparing the movement of 94 tonnes of gold. Over the last six months, Tether Gold (XAUt) facilitated this massive transfer of value with a total fee of just 0.0016%, a figure that stands in stark contrast to the millions of dollars central banks must spend on armored transport, international security, and insurance for physical repatriation.
While physical gold movement is a sluggish process—often taking weeks or months to navigate the complexities of global logistics—tokenized gold operates with near-instant finality on the blockchain. Furthermore, the digital format allows for extreme utility; XAUt is divisible down to 0.000001 troy oz, whereas central banks are restricted to handling physical bars and coins, which are difficult to move, store, and fractionally trade.
International News
Signet The Biggest-Grossing Jeweller In North America By Far In 2025
Luxury Groups, Specialist Watch Retailers, and Branded Jewellery Players Are Steadily Gaining Ground Against Traditional Mass-Market and Department-Store Operators
National Jeweler’s latest State of the Majors report highlights a shifting leaderboard among North America’s “$100M supersellers,” which grew from 36 to 37 qualifying retailers in 2025. While Signet Group comfortably defended its first-place crown—generating $6.36 billion across 2,329 stores—the rest of the top ten saw major disruption. Signet’s total watch and jewelry sales for the year were $6.36 billion according to the report and had 2,329 outlets. Second-placed Richemont, the Swiss luxury conglomerate, sold $3.62 billion, with just 105 locations selling watches and jewlery.
One of the report’s most notable developments was the rise of Richemont to the No. 2 position, overtaking several larger-format retailers. The Swiss luxury conglomerate, owner of prestigious maisons including Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels, reported $3.62 billion in watch and jewellery sales through only 105 locations. The performance illustrates the outsized revenue-generating power of luxury retail, with Richemont achieving high productivity per store compared with mass-market competitors.
The reshuffling pushed Walmart down to fourth place, signaling a broader shift in consumer spending toward premium and luxury jewellery categories. Meanwhile, warehouse retailer Costco advanced to No. 5, continuing to strengthen its position in fine jewellery through value-led offerings and member-driven purchasing.
Jewellery brand Pandora also climbed one rank to secure the No. 7 spot, reflecting sustained demand for branded jewellery collections and accessible luxury products. In contrast, luxury powerhouse LVMH slipped to No. 6, while longstanding department store chain Macy’s moved down to eighth place, highlighting increased competitive pressures within traditional retail channels.
Another significant change came at the lower end of the top ten, where Watches of Switzerland Group entered the rankings at No. 10, marking growing momentum for specialist luxury watch retail in North America. Its entry displaced Bucherer to No. 11, emphasizing the increasingly competitive nature of premium watch distribution.
The report points to a broader transformation in North America’s jewellery retail hierarchy, where luxury groups, specialist watch retailers, and branded jewellery players are steadily gaining ground against traditional mass-market and department-store operators. While scale remains a decisive advantage—as demonstrated by Signet’s market leadership—the rankings suggest profitability and influence are increasingly being driven by premium positioning, brand equity, and high-value transactions rather than store count alone.
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