Bitcoin News Today: Tether Bets Big on Gold, Defies Critics as It Blurs Lines Between Digital and Physical Assets

Tether, the issuer of the world's largest stablecoin USDT, continues to expand its investment strategy by deepening its exposure to gold across the entire supply chain, from mining and refining to royalty financing and trading. The company's CEO, Paolo Ardoino, has been a vocal advocate for gold, referring to it as "our source of nature" and emphasizing its role as a more reliable store of value compared to national currencies. In June 2025, Tether made a significant $105 million investment in Elemental Altus, a Toronto-listed gold royalty company, and followed up with an additional $100 million in July after Elemental's merger with EMX. These actions signal Tether’s intention to scale its gold exposure beyond token-backed reserves, such as its XAUt stablecoin, which currently has a market cap under $900 million. The company has also engaged in discussions with multiple mining and investment groups, including Terranova Resources, a British Virgin Islands-based gold vehicle, although no agreements were reached with the latter. Tether’s growing involvement in physical gold aligns with its broader strategy to anchor its digital assets with tangible, traditional commodities.

Ardoino has recently addressed rumors suggesting Tether is offloading its Bitcoin holdings to buy gold, stating explicitly that the firm “didn’t sell any Bitcoin.” He confirmed that Tether is still allocating profits into Bitcoin, gold, and land. These comments came in response to claims by YouTuber Clive Thompson, who cited a reduction in Tether’s Bitcoin holdings from 92,650 BTC in Q1 to 83,274 BTC in Q2. However, according to Jan3 CEO Samson Mow, the drop was due to a 19,800 BTC transfer to Twenty One Capital (XXI), a Bitcoin-native financial platform, rather than a sell-off. In fact, if this transaction is accounted for, Tether's holdings would have increased, and Ardoino clarified that the Bitcoin was “moved, not sold.” As of the latest data, Tether holds over 100,521 BTC, valued at approximately $11.17 billion, according to BitcoinTreasuries.NET. The company’s commitment to diversifying its asset portfolio remains strong, with safe assets such as Bitcoin and gold continuing to be key components.

Tether’s strategic shift toward gold is also reflected in its existing $8.7 billion in gold reserves, stored in Zurich and partially used to back its tokens. However, the company is now exploring larger-scale physical gold investments. In June 2025, it transferred over 37,000 BTC—worth $3.9 billion—to XXI, a move that underscores Tether’s ongoing efforts to support Bitcoin-related financial infrastructure. This approach not only reinforces its digital asset presence but also aligns with its broader mission to integrate blockchain-based finance with hard-asset backing. The company’s growing gold reserves and investments are part of a larger narrative in which digital assets and traditional commodities are increasingly converging, offering new opportunities for institutional and retail investors alike.

Tether’s increasing interest in gold has drawn both attention and skepticism from the commodities sector. Some industry insiders have described the company as unconventional, with one mining executive noting, “They like gold. I don’t think they have a strategy,” while another commodity veteran called Tether “the weirdest company I have ever dealt with.” Despite these comments, Tether has continued to pursue its vision of blending digital and physical assets. The company's gold-backed stablecoin, XAUt, remains a niche product compared to its dominant USDT offering, which has a market cap exceeding $168 billion. Nonetheless, Tether’s expansion into physical gold investments, including royalty deals and mining ventures, suggests a long-term commitment to diversifying its asset base and strengthening the backing of its tokens.

As the stablecoin giant continues to allocate capital into gold and Bitcoin, it appears to be positioning itself at the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets. This strategy reflects a broader industry trend in which institutional players seek to combine the stability of physical commodities with the efficiency of blockchain technology. Tether’s actions also come amid global shifts in monetary policy, including El Salvador’s recent decision to add $50 million in gold to its foreign reserves as part of a diversification strategy. The country’s earlier investment in Bitcoin—purchasing 6,292 BTC—has not been repeated since February 2025, according to an International Monetary Fund report. Tether’s continued investment in gold and Bitcoin suggests a belief in the long-term value of these assets, even as geopolitical and economic uncertainties persist.

Tether's dual focus on Bitcoin and gold reflects its broader vision for the future of finance—a hybrid system that leverages both digital innovation and traditional value stores. By increasing its physical gold holdings and maintaining a significant Bitcoin reserve, the company is reinforcing its position as a key player in the evolving financial landscape. These moves are not only strategic for Tether but may also influence how other financial institutions approach the integration of digital and physical assets. As Tether expands its gold exposure and defends its Bitcoin strategy, it is likely to face both increased scrutiny and greater opportunities for growth in a rapidly changing market.

Source: [1] Tether in talks to invest in gold miners as its gold reserves ... (https://cryptobriefing.com/tether-gold-investments-mining/) [2] Stablecoin Giant Tether in Talks to Deepen Gold Investments ... (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/stablecoin-giant-tether-talks-deepen-121736771.html) [3] Tether denies Bitcoin sell-off rumors, confirms buying BTC, ... (https://cointelegraph.com/news/tether-denies-bitcoin-sell-off-invests-btc-gold-land)