Bitcoin News Today: Tether Transfers BTC to Boost Bitcoin Ecosystem, Defends Gold Play

Tether, the issuer of the largest stablecoin USDT, has clarified recent speculation that it had sold a portion of its Bitcoin (BTC) holdings in favor of gold. The firm’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, explicitly denied the claims, emphasizing that Tether did not sell any Bitcoin during the second quarter of 2025. Instead, the firm is continuing to allocate a portion of its profits into safe assets such as Bitcoin, gold, and land, as part of a broader diversification strategy.

The confusion initially arose from a review of Tether’s attestation data by YouTuber Clive Thompson, who pointed to a drop in reported Bitcoin holdings from 92,650 BTC in Q1 to 83,274 BTC in Q2 as evidence of a sell-off. However, this interpretation was contested by Jan3 CEO Samson Mow, who explained that the decrease was due to a strategic transfer of 19,800 BTC—14,000 BTC in June and 5,800 BTC in July—to Twenty One Capital (XXI), a Bitcoin-native financial platform. Mow noted that, when accounting for these transfers, Tether actually maintained a net increase in its Bitcoin holdings.

Tether’s move to support XXI with over 37,000 BTC—worth approximately $3.9 billion—demonstrates the firm’s commitment to strengthening the Bitcoin ecosystem. The transfer, which was not a sale, reflects a broader trend of institutional support for Bitcoin infrastructure. The company continues to hold a significant reserve of BTC, with current holdings standing at over 100,521 BTC, valued at around $11.17 billion, according to BitcoinTreasuries.NET.

Alongside Bitcoin, Tether has also expanded its investment strategy to include gold. The firm has allocated $90 million to acquire a stake in a gold royalty company and recently announced a further $100 million investment in the same firm, Elemental Altus Royalties Corp. Tether also issues Tether Gold (XAUT), a gold-backed stablecoin, and holds 5% of its USDT reserves in gold. This shift toward tangible assets is part of a defensive financial strategy aimed at reducing exposure to market volatility.

The firm’s diversification comes at a time when El Salvador has also expanded its gold reserves, adding 13,999 troy ounces of gold to its foreign reserves for a total of $50 million. This marks the country’s first gold acquisition since 1990 and is part of its broader diversification away from the U.S. dollar. While El Salvador had previously accumulated a Bitcoin reserve of 6,292 BTC valued at $700 million, it has not made new purchases since February 2025, according to an International Monetary Fund report.

Tether’s approach to asset allocation and its continued investment in Bitcoin, gold, and land reflect a long-term strategy to maintain stability in the face of global economic uncertainty. The firm’s actions have broader implications for the crypto market, potentially influencing other institutional players to adopt similar strategies in the current macroeconomic climate.

Source:

[1] Tether denies Bitcoin sell-off, invests BTC, gold, land (https://cointelegraph.com/news/tether-denies-bitcoin-sell-off-invests-btc-gold-land)

[2] Tether CEO refutes claims that the firm sold Bitcoin and bought gold (https://cryptoslate.com/tether-ceo-refutes-claims-that-the-firm-sold-bitcoin-and-bought-gold/)

[3] Tether denies Bitcoin sale amid growing speculation (https://www.cointribune.com/en/tether-denies-bitcoin-sale-amid-growing-speculation/)