Gate Launches 24-Hour Spot Silver Trading via Perpetual Contracts, Bridging Traditional and Crypto Markets

Gate.io has unveiled its “Precious Metals Zone,” introducing USDT-margined perpetual contracts for precious metals that operate around the clock. The launch marks a significant shift in how traditional assets like spot silver can be accessed and traded within crypto infrastructure. With 24-hour spot silver trading now available alongside gold (XAU), the platform is fundamentally changing the accessibility of these traditional safe-haven assets. Trading commenced on January 14th at 17:00 (UTC+8), with contracts accessible through the Gate.io website or mobile application.

Spot Silver Surges 23% Year-to-Date as Precious Metals Find 24/7 Home in Crypto

The timing of this launch coincides with a remarkable bull run in precious metals. Spot gold has climbed nearly 7% since the start of 2026, breaking through the $4,600 mark, while spot silver has demonstrated even stronger momentum with a 23% year-to-date surge—substantially outperforming major crypto assets like Bitcoin. This performance underscores the appeal of precious metals as portfolio diversifiers in the current market environment.

By bringing spot silver and other precious metals into the crypto derivatives ecosystem, Gate is addressing a critical market gap. Traditional precious metals trading operates during limited market hours, whereas Gate’s 24-hour spot silver contracts enable traders to respond to global market developments and price movements without waiting for conventional market opens. This continuous trading capability democratizes access to precious metals, allowing both institutional and retail participants to engage at any time.

USDT-Margined Contracts with 50x Leverage Enable Uninterrupted Precious Metals Trading

The technical architecture supporting these contracts reflects Gate’s expertise in derivatives trading. Each contract supports up to 50x leverage, allowing traders to amplify their exposure to precious metals price movements. The USDT margin structure provides transparency and reduces counterparty risk while maintaining compatibility with the broader crypto ecosystem.

Critically, the pricing mechanism draws from multiple established precious metals markets globally, ensuring robust price discovery and stability. This multi-source index approach mirrors best practices in traditional finance while adapting them for the higher-velocity environment of crypto derivatives. The result is a more efficient price basis that serves both high-frequency traders managing complex strategies and longer-term investors seeking reliable hedging tools.

From Macro Hedging to Portfolio Diversification: How 24-Hour Spot Silver Transforms Trading Strategies

The practical applications of 24-hour spot silver contracts span multiple use cases. Traditional finance participants can now execute precious metals strategies with the efficiency and leverage tools available in crypto markets, without abandoning their preferred asset base. Simultaneously, native crypto traders gain exposure to recognized store-of-value assets, improving overall portfolio resilience and risk-adjusted returns.

Specific strategies enabled by these contracts include macro hedging during periods of economic uncertainty, swing trading around intraday price movements, cross-market arbitrage opportunities between crypto and traditional spot markets, and portfolio rebalancing across asset classes. The standardized contract format eliminates the friction typical of traditional precious metals trading, democratizing access to sophisticated hedging approaches previously available primarily to institutional participants.

Gate’s TradFi Expansion: Connecting Traditional Assets with Crypto Market Infrastructure

This product launch exemplifies Gate’s broader strategic vision: positioning crypto trading infrastructure as a bridge between traditional finance and decentralized markets. As a leading platform serving over 48 million users and supporting trading across more than 4,300 crypto assets, Gate has developed sophisticated risk management and liquidity systems capable of handling complex derivatives.

The introduction of spot silver perpetual contracts and related precious metals products represents a material expansion of Gate’s asset offering. The platform has signaled plans to evaluate additional traditional asset classes for cryptocurrency-native trading, potentially including indices, commodities, and diversified derivatives. This roadmap positions crypto exchanges not merely as destinations for digital asset speculation, but as comprehensive financial infrastructure capable of serving capital allocation needs across markets and geographies. Within appropriate regulatory frameworks and risk control protocols, Gate aims to evolve into a more universal global financial marketplace.