Stellar vs Tether Gold: Key Differences (XLM vs XAUT)
Complete side-by-side comparison of Stellar and Tether Gold. Price, market cap, technology, and more.
Share Stellar vs Tether Gold
What is Stellar?
Jed McCaleb co-founded Ripple, then left to build Stellar with a focus on financial inclusion. It targets remittances to developing countries where bank fees destroy the value of small transfers. Partnerships with MoneyGram and various central banks keep it relevant.
What is Tether Gold?
Tether Gold (XAUT) represents ownership of physical gold on the Ethereum blockchain. Each token is backed by one troy ounce of gold held in Swiss vaults. Backed by Tether, the stablecoin giant, it combines gold's ancient value proposition with blockchain's portability. Trade gold 24/7 with instant settlement.
Price Evolution
Percentage change from start of period
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price & Market | ||
| Price | $0.185 | $3,992.74 |
Price $0.185 $3,992.74 | ||
| Market Cap | $6.28B | $2.45B |
Market Cap $6.28B $2.45B | ||
| 24h Volume | $207.88M | $331.74M |
24h Volume $207.88M $331.74M | ||
| Volume/Cap Ratio | 3.31% | 13.56% |
Volume/Cap Ratio 3.31% 13.56% | ||
| Market Dominance | 0.00308363% | 0.00120221% |
Market Dominance 0.00308363% 0.00120221% | ||
| All-Time High | $0.876 | $5,504.62 |
All-Time High $0.876 $5,504.62 | ||
| ATH Date | Jan 3, 2018 | Jan 29, 2026 |
ATH Date Jan 3, 2018 Jan 29, 2026 | ||
| Performance | ||
| 24h Change | 5.69% | 2.36% |
24h Change 5.69% 2.36% | ||
| 7d Change | 19.02% | 5.98% |
7d Change 19.02% 5.98% | ||
| 30d Change | 23.57% | 12.32% |
30d Change 23.57% 12.32% | ||
| Supply | ||
| Circulating Supply | 33.93B | 612,823.66 |
Circulating Supply 33.93B 612,823.66 | ||
| Total Supply | 50.00B | 707,747.089 |
Total Supply 50.00B 707,747.089 | ||
| Max Supply | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Max Supply Unlimited Unlimited | ||
| Technology | ||
| Consensus | Stellar Consensus Protocol | ERC-20 (Ethereum PoS) |
Consensus Stellar Consensus Protocol ERC-20 (Ethereum PoS) | ||
| Block Time | 3-5 seconds | N/A (Token) |
Block Time 3-5 seconds N/A (Token) | ||
| TPS (Transactions/sec) | 1000 | N/A |
TPS (Transactions/sec) 1000 N/A | ||
| Launch Year | 2014 | 2020 |
Launch Year 2014 2020 | ||
| Transaction Fees | ||
| Average Fee | < $0.01 | $0.50-$20 |
Average Fee < $0.01 $0.50-$20 | ||
| Fee Model | Stellar Consensus Protocol | Ethereum gas fees (ERC-20) |
Fee Model Stellar Consensus Protocol Ethereum gas fees (ERC-20) | ||
| General | ||
| Primary Use Case | Cross-border payments, Remittances | Tokenized gold, Store of value |
Primary Use Case Cross-border payments, Remittances Tokenized gold, Store of value | ||
| Founder | Jed McCaleb, Joyce Kim | Tether (Jean-Louis van der Velde) |
Founder Jed McCaleb, Joyce Kim Tether (Jean-Louis van der Velde) | ||
| Website | stellar.org | gold.tether.to |
Website | ||
| Volatility & Risk | ||
| Drawdown from ATH | 78.9% | 27.5% |
Drawdown from ATH 78.9% 27.5% | ||
Technology Comparison
Use Cases & Ecosystem
- ✓Built for cross-border payments and remittances
- ✓Non-profit foundation with clear mission
- ✓Partnerships with MoneyGram and various banks
- ✓Each token backed by one troy ounce of physical gold
- ✓Each token backed by one troy ounce of physical gold
- ✓Issued by Tether - largest stablecoin company
- ✓Issued by Tether - largest stablecoin company
- ✓Gold stored in secure Swiss vaults
- ✓Gold stored in secure Swiss vaults
Stellar Risks
- ✗Slower adoption than initially promised
- ✗Limited smart contract capabilities
Tether Gold Risks
- ✗Tether's transparency history raises concerns
- ✗Tether's transparency history raises concerns
- ✗Less regulatory oversight than competitor PAXG
- ✗Less regulatory oversight than competitor PAXG
Investment Considerations
The Verdict
Both Stellar and Tether Gold serve important roles in the crypto ecosystem. Stellar focuses on cross-border payments, remittances, while Tether Gold is known for tokenized gold, store of value. Many investors choose to hold both as part of a diversified crypto portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between XLM and XAUT?
XLM is a blockchain token designed for cross-border payments and remittances, focusing on financial inclusion and fast transactions. XAUT, on the other hand, is a tokenized representation of physical gold on the Ethereum blockchain, serving as a store of value rather than a payment method.
Which token is better for cross-border payments, XLM or XAUT?
XLM is specifically built for cross-border payments and remittances with fast transaction speeds and low fees. XAUT is not designed for payments but for trading and holding gold digitally, so XLM is the better choice for remittances and transfers.
Can I use XAUT for investing in gold?
Yes, XAUT represents ownership of physical gold stored in Swiss vaults, making it a convenient way to invest in gold on the blockchain. It allows 24/7 trading with instant settlement, combining gold's value with blockchain technology.
How do the consensus mechanisms of XLM and XAUT differ?
XLM uses the Stellar Consensus Protocol, a unique consensus mechanism optimized for fast and efficient cross-border payments. XAUT operates as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum's Proof of Stake network, relying on Ethereum's consensus for security and transaction validation.
Which token launched first, XLM or XAUT?
XLM was launched in 2014 by Jed McCaleb and Joyce Kim with a focus on financial inclusion and remittances. XAUT was launched later in 2020 by Tether to provide a tokenized gold asset on the Ethereum blockchain.
Share Stellar vs Tether Gold