Tether Bolsters USDT Stability with $8 Billion Gold Move to Swiss Vault

In a bold MOVE underscoring its commitment to asset-backed stability, Tether—the issuer of the USDT stablecoin—has transferred 80 metric tons of gold (worth $8 billion) to a high-security vault in Switzerland. This strategic relocation, defying EU regulatory trends, significantly expands Tether's gold reserves from 7.7 tons to 80 tons since March 2025. CEO Paolo Ardoino champions the Swiss facility as "the most secure in the world," positioning physical gold as a hedge against fiat currency risks. The consolidation reinforces USDT's collateral framework amid growing institutional demand for tangible asset-backed stablecoins.

Tether Moves $8 Billion in Gold to Swiss Vault, Defying EU Regulations

Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, has transferred approximately 80 metric tons of gold—valued at $8 billion—to a privately operated vault in Switzerland. CEO Paolo Ardoino touts the facility as "the most secure in the world," positioning gold as a safer asset than fiat currencies. The move consolidates Tether's earlier holdings of 7.7 tons, bringing its total gold reserves to 80 tons since March.

The company established its own storage facility to avoid costly third-party custody fees. Ardoino emphasized the financial rationale: at a hypothetical $100 billion valuation for Tether Gold tokens, even a 50-basis-point custody fee would represent significant savings. The strategy also serves as a tangible demonstration of reserve backing for its stablecoins.

Notably, Tether's Swiss Gold reserves remain outside EU regulatory oversight as MiCA regulations take effect. The firm's Q1 2025 report reveals broader holdings, including nearly $100 billion in US Treasuries, underscoring its diversified approach to reserve management.

Upbit and Bithumb List New Altcoins, Sparking Triple-Digit Gains

South Korea's leading crypto exchanges Upbit and Bithumb have ignited market activity with dual altcoin listings. Upbit will enable BABY token trading against BTC and USDT pairs starting 16:00 KST, while adding HYPER/KRW trading at 17:00 KST. Bithumb mirrored the HYPER/KRW listing with identical timing.

The announcements triggered immediate price action. HYPER, native to interoperability protocol Hyperlane, skyrocketed over 100% from $0.151 to $0.348 within hours. Market participants note the KRW pairing's significance for local traders seeking direct fiat access.

Exchange notices emphasized network verification requirements for deposits, warning against using unsupported chains. The listings mark Upbit's second HYPER integration after initially offering BTC and USDT pairs in May.

BIT Mining Pivots to Solana with $300M Treasury Plan Amid Offshore Scrutiny

BIT Mining, a NYSE-listed firm with Cayman Islands registration, is staking its future on Solana. The company plans to convert its entire crypto treasury—including 19 BTC, 1,246 ETH, and 7.6M DOGE—into SOL, targeting a $300 million position. This follows Bit Digital's recent shift to Ethereum, marking a growing trend of public companies favoring altcoins.

The proposed Solana holdings would dwarf BIT Mining's current $1.5M BTC position, acquired at an average of $77,526 per coin. As part of its reinvention from a former casino operator (500.com), the firm will participate in Solana validation and staking. Offshore corporate structures and a thin Bitcoin reserve raise questions about the strategic pivot.