USDT Reserves Surge as Binance Users Shift Crypto Holdings in Favor of Bitcoin

Binance's latest Proof of Reserves report highlights a significant shift in user behavior, with Bitcoin balances increasing by 2.99% month-over-month to 591,164 BTC as of August 1, 2025. This marks the addition of 17,167 BTC to exchange wallets, reflecting growing confidence in the leading cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, ethereum holdings on the platform have seen a decline, indicating a potential rotation out of ETH into Bitcoin and other assets. The report also notes expansions in USDT, BNB, and XRP reserves, underscoring a broader trend of diversification among Binance users. This divergence in asset accumulation suggests evolving market sentiment and strategic portfolio adjustments ahead of anticipated market movements.

Binance Users Accumulate Bitcoin While Offloading Ethereum in July

Binance's latest Proof of Reserves report reveals a striking divergence in user behavior between Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings. Bitcoin balances surged 2.99% month-over-month to 591,164 BTC as of August 1, marking the addition of 17,167 BTC to exchange wallets. The trend extends to stablecoins and other major assets, with USDT, BNB, and XRP reserves also expanding.

Ethereum tells a different story. Exchange balances contracted 9.84% in July alone, totaling 496,984 ETH withdrawn. This continues a three-month exodus, including June's 5.34% reduction. Market observers interpret the outflow as a bullish signal - investors appear to be moving ETH into long-term storage or staking positions rather than abandoning the asset.

'BTC + USDT reserves rising = dip buying in full force. ETH supply drop = users moving ETH off exchange, likely to stake or hold,' noted analyst Cas Abbé. The data suggests traders are positioning Bitcoin as their preferred exchange-traded asset while treating Ethereum as a longer-term holding.

Binance's Ethereum Reserves Drop 10% Amid Mixed Crypto Market Performance

Binance's Ethereum holdings fell nearly 10% between July and August, marking the largest decline among major assets in its reserves. The exchange's ETH balance dropped from 5.05 million to 4.56 million tokens during the period, while bitcoin reserves saw modest growth and USDT maintained stable accumulation patterns.

The August proof-of-reserves report shows customer net balances now stand at 4,555,013.724 ETH, with Binance holding a slightly higher total of 4,585,489.832 ETH across exchange wallets and third-party custody solutions. Despite the drawdown, the platform maintains a 100.67% reserve ratio—exceeding requirements for customer protection.

Market dynamics appear to have driven divergent trends in crypto reserves. Ethereum faced selling pressure even as Bitcoin and stablecoins gained traction. The shift occurs against a backdrop of fluctuating trading volumes and mixed performance across digital asset markets.

USDC Dominates Crypto Payroll Adoption as Stablecoins Reshape Compensation Trends

Stablecoins are rapidly transforming global payroll systems, with Circle's USDC emerging as the clear leader. Pantera Capital's 2024 Blockchain Compensation Survey reveals 60% of crypto-denominated wages now flow through USDC, while USDT captures 28% market share. This marks a seismic shift from traditional fiat payments, which dropped from 95% to 85% penetration between 2023-2024.

The trend reflects growing demand for cross-border efficiency, particularly in Asia where workers leverage stablecoins to circumvent banking restrictions. solana and Ethereum claim niche positions at 1.9% and 1.3% respectively, though their volatility limits payroll utility. "We're witnessing the professionalization of crypto compensation," observes Pantera's research team, noting 9.6% of workers now receive partial crypto pay compared to just 3% last year.

Payment innovators report settlement times under 10 seconds and fees below $0.05 per transaction when using stablecoin rails. DAOs and blockchain-native companies lead adoption, with some offering hybrid fiat/crypto splits. The data suggests a permanent structural change in compensation - one that favors dollar-pegged assets over volatile cryptocurrencies for recurring payroll.

Tether Invests in Bit2Me, Leading €30M Funding Round to Boost European and Latin American Expansion

Tether, the issuer of the world's largest stablecoin USDT, has acquired a minority stake in Spanish cryptocurrency platform Bit2Me. The deal includes leading a €30 million ($34 million) funding round aimed at accelerating Bit2Me's expansion across Europe and Latin America.

The investment underscores Tether's strategic push into regulated crypto ecosystems. Bit2Me recently became the first Spanish-speaking exchange to secure approval under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, granting it passporting rights across all 27 member states.

"This partnership aligns with our vision for compliant, accessible digital finance," said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, highlighting Bit2Me's regulatory milestones and educational initiatives. The funding round is expected to close within weeks.

GMO Miner Launches XRP Cloud Mining Contracts Amid Institutional Buying Spree

GMO Miner has unveiled a cloud mining service targeting XRP holders, promising daily yields up to $6,800 through passive income contracts. The launch coincides with a $180 million institutional XRP accumulation, signaling renewed interest in the payment-focused asset.

The platform eliminates traditional mining barriers by requiring no hardware or technical expertise. Users simply hold XRP to activate automated daily payouts, with support for seven major cryptocurrencies including BTC and USDT. A $15 signup bonus lowers participation thresholds for retail investors.

XRP's fundamental advantages—sub-second settlement times and negligible transaction costs—continue positioning it as a cross-border payment solution. GMO's offering capitalizes on these traits while addressing holder demand for yield beyond price speculation.