Gold has become a top-performing asset in 2025 due to geopolitical uncertainty and central bank buying. Traditional safe-haven asset gold has gained 35% year-to-date, reaching over $3,600 an ounce. US retirement planners can now access gold through blockchain tokenization with SmartGold and Chintai Nexus. This week’s Crypto Biz covers gold’s rally, DeFi lending, and a crypto company’s public offering.

US IRAs partner with SmartGold and Chintai Nexus for tokenized gold access. The initiative allows investors to bring vaulted gold onchain for DeFi lending. Bullion held in IRAs is tokenized on a one-to-one basis, preserving tax-deferred status. Tokenization of gold is growing, with companies like International Precious Metals Bullion Group and Tether’s XAUT stablecoin seeing increased market value.

DeFi lending is on the rise with institutions showing interest in stablecoins and real-world assets. Total value locked in DeFi lending protocols has increased by 72% this year to $127 billion. Tokenized RWAs, including private credit, US Treasury bonds, and equities, are among the fastest-growing crypto use cases in 2025.

Figure Technology Solutions plans a $526 million IPO, aiming for a valuation of over $4 billion. The company, known for financial products on the Provenance Blockchain, reported $191 million in revenue in the first half of the year. Several crypto companies are going public, with Gemini and Kraken also seeking significant raises.

Gryphon Digital Mining shareholders approve a merger with American Bitcoin, connected to the family of Donald Trump. The merged entity will trade under the ticker symbol “ABTC.” The deal included a reverse stock split to reduce outstanding shares. American Bitcoin, a rebrand of American Data Center, aims to be a significant Bitcoin miner.

Read more at Cointelegraph: Crypto Biz | Gold Goes Digital