Tether Holds Onto Bitcoin While Diversifying Into Gold and Land in 2025
- Did Tether Really Sell Its Bitcoin?
- Why Is Tether Betting on Gold and Dirt?
- The Elephant in the Room: Audits vs. Attestations
- What’s Next for Tether?
- FAQs
Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, has clarified rumors about selling Bitcoin, revealing instead a strategic shift toward gold and agricultural land investments. Despite a dip in bitcoin holdings on paper, the company transferred assets to its subsidiary, Twenty One, as part of a broader IPO preparation. With $4.9 billion in net profits, $127 billion in Treasuries, and $5.5 billion in excess reserves, Tether is doubling down on tangible assets—gold stored in Zurich and a 70% stake in Adecoagro. While skeptics question the lack of full audits, Tether’s pivot reflects a bold vision for asset diversification. Here’s the breakdown.
Did Tether Really Sell Its Bitcoin?
Nope—not a single satoshi. Between Q1 and Q2 2025, Tether’s Bitcoin reserves dropped from 92,000 to 83,000 coins, sparking panic on Crypto Twitter. But Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s outspoken CTO, shut down the FUD: the "missing" BTC was moved to, a joint venture with Bitfinex prepping for a public listing via Cantor Equity Partners. "Tether didn’t sell any Bitcoin. We’re just playing chess," Ardoino tweeted, attaching a robot emoji for flair. The company still buys BTC monthly, allocating 15% of net profits (per its May 2023 rule). Attestations show $4.9B in net earnings last quarter—enough to make even Wall Street raise an eyebrow.
Why Is Tether Betting on Gold and Dirt?
Forget digital moonshots—Tether’s gone old-school. Its Zurich vaults now hold $8.7B in physical gold, with side hustles in mining royalties. In June, it dropped $89M into Elemental Altus (total exposure: $205M), and rumors suggest another $100M is coming. Then there’s Adecoagro: Tether grabbed a 10% stake in 2024 for $100M, then aggressively upped it to 70% this year. Analysts at BTCC speculate this farmland grab hints at future—a sleepy sector that could wake up fast. "Gold’s shiny, but fertile soil? That’s the ultimate inflation hedge," one trader joked.
The Elephant in the Room: Audits vs. Attestations
Tether’s financials are verified by BDO’s attestations—not full audits. That’s like getting a thumbs-up from your gym buddy instead of a doctor. U.S. regulators are circling, drafting stricter rules for stablecoin issuers. If audits become mandatory, Tether might need to reshuffle its deck. For now, though, it’s stacking chips: $127B in U.S. Treasuries, $5.5B in excess reserves, and enough Gold bars to make Scrooge McDuck jealous.
What’s Next for Tether?
Three words:. Between Bitcoin, gold-backed tokens, and potential agri-commodity digitization, Tether’s morphing into a hybrid of BlackRock and a Swiss bank vault. Critics call it a gamble; fans say it’s genius. One thing’s clear: in a world where banks collapse and algorithms trade memecoins, Tether’s betting on assets you can touch. "They’re building a fortress," admits a BTCC analyst. "Whether it’s visionary or delusional? Ask me in 2026."
FAQs
Did Tether sell its Bitcoin holdings?
No. The apparent reduction was due to an internal transfer to Twenty One, a subsidiary preparing for an IPO.
How much gold does Tether own?
As of Q2 2025, Tether holds $8.7B in physical gold stored in Zurich, plus investments in mining royalties.
Why is Tether investing in farmland?
The Adecoagro stake (70% as of 2025) suggests a long-term strategy to tokenize agricultural commodities—a nascent but high-potential market.
Are Tether’s financials audited?
No. The company relies on attestations from BDO, not full audits, which remains a point of regulatory scrutiny.
