Bitcoin News Today: Tether Bets Big on Gold, Chasing the World’s Oldest Store of Value

Tether, the issuer of the world's largest stablecoin USDT, is expanding its investment scope into the gold mining sector, signaling a broader diversification of its asset holdings. The company has been in discussions with mining groups, investment firms, and royalty companies about opportunities spanning the entire gold supply chain, including mining, refining, trading, and royalty agreements, according to sources familiar with the matter [1]. These efforts reflect Tether’s strategy to deploy the substantial profits from its stablecoin operations into tangible assets and new ventures.

Tether, which operates the USDT stablecoin with a market capitalization of $168 billion, reported $5.7 billion in profits during the first half of 2025, largely derived from interest earned on its holdings of U.S. Treasuries [1]. Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s chief executive, has been a vocal advocate for gold, describing it as a "natural Bitcoin" due to its historical role as a store of value and its potential as a complement to digital assets [1]. Ardoino's position aligns with Tether’s existing exposure to gold, which includes $8.7 billion in gold bullion held in a Zurich vault as part of its reserves [4].

To further solidify its presence in the gold sector, Tether made a significant investment in June 2025 by acquiring a $105 million minority stake in Elemental Altus, a Toronto-listed gold royalty company [1]. The firm is considering additional investments in Elemental Altus and has engaged in discussions with other royalty companies that provide returns in the form of a percentage of future mine revenues [1]. In a separate initiative, Tether explored, though did not finalize, a deal with Terranova Resources, a gold mining investment vehicle based in the British Virgin Islands [1].

The company also runs XAUt, a gold-backed crypto token, though it has limited adoption compared to its flagship stablecoin, with a market capitalization of $880 million [1]. Tether’s interest in gold has drawn mixed reactions from the mining sector, with some industry insiders expressing skepticism about the company’s approach. One mining executive noted, "They like gold. I don't think they have a strategy," while another described Tether as "the weirdest company I have ever dealt with" [1].

Tether’s move into gold reflects a broader trend of integrating traditional and digital asset classes. Other firms are also experimenting with bridging the gap between precious metals and digital currencies. For example, Blue Gold, a Nasdaq-listed mining company, is planning to issue digital tokens backed by its future gold production [1]. The gold market itself has shown strong performance, with prices rising to an all-time high of over $3,550 per ounce and nearly doubling in the last two years [2]. This trend underscores the appeal of gold as a hedge against geopolitical uncertainties, a characteristic that aligns with the motivations of many crypto-native investors.

Tether has also expanded beyond gold into other sectors, including commodity trade finance and technology. The company provides short-term financing for raw material shipments, with its trading book reportedly valued in the billions [4]. Its investment arm has acquired stakes in artificial intelligence, Bitcoin treasury services, and even a stake in the Juventus Football Club [5]. These moves highlight Tether’s strategy to reinvest its crypto profits into diverse ventures, leveraging its financial position to pursue opportunities beyond its core stablecoin business.

Source: [1] Stablecoin group Tether holds talks to invest in gold miners (https://www.ft.com/content/135fb3dd-2395-4f04-8cc6-7fb0e87cd092) [2] USDT Issuer Tether Holds Talks to Invest in Gold Mining: FT (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/09/05/tether-held-talks-to-invest-in-gold-mining-ft) [3] Tether in talks to invest in gold miners as its gold reserves ... (https://cryptobriefing.com/tether-gold-investments-mining/) [4] Financial Times: Tether in talks to invest in gold mining (https://www.panewslab.com/en/articles/bc1a8ca9-c71c-47aa-b469-8b0f7b575155) [5] Tether plans move into gold mining investments (https://www.mitrade.com/insights/news/live-news/article-3-1099044-20250905) [6] Gold Over Bitcoin? USDT Stablecoin Issuer Tether Diverts ... (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gold-over-bitcoin-usdt-stablecoin-075339356.html) [7] Tether To Explore Investments In Gold, The 'Natural Bitcoin' (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tether-explore-investments-gold-natural-123654304.html)