Quick Read
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Ardoino announced Tether holds 150,000 BTC worth ~$11.5 billion, with 50,000 coins classified as company investments separate from USDT reserves.
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The 150,000 BTC claim lacks wallet address verification, placing Tether's holdings behind Strategy Inc. (849,327 BTC), the U.S. government, and China if accurate.
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Tether's announcement references coins it already owns with no new purchase commitments, meaning the disclosure adds no immediate buying pressure to Bitcoin's price.
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Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino announced that the stablecoin issuer possesses 150,000 Bitcoin(CRYPTO: BTC), valued at around $11.5 billion. This figure represents an increase of 50,000 coins from Tether's latest reserve report because these additional bitcoins are considered company investments, not part of the reserves backing USDT.
Tether issues USDT(CRYPTO: USDT), the largest stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, designed to maintain a value of $1. If Arduino's claim is accurate, USDT holders have no claim to this extra Bitcoin, which says more about Tether's investment strategy than the money backing the stablecoin.
Bitcoin's price remained stable in the news, trading at $77,609, up 0.4% over the last 24 hours. This follows a 3.7% drop over the past week and is about 38% below its all-time high of $126,080, set on October 6, 2025.
In contrast, shares of bitcoin-related companies moved significantly, with Strategy Inc.( NASDAQ: MSTR ) up about 5% and MARA Holdings( NASDAQ: MARA ) up 8.9% after one-month declines of 14.2% and 37.7%, respectively. At current prices, Ardoino's 150,000 BTC is worth roughly $11.6 billion, and the additional 50,000 coins are valued at around $3.9 billion.
Tether Splits Its Bitcoin Between USDT Reserves and Its Own Investments
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When customers trade dollars for USDT, Tether typically invests this money in U.S. Treasury bills, which are short-term loans to the government. Tether retains the interest earned, as USDT holders do not receive any yield. In the third quarter, T-bills and reverse repos—very short-term loans backed by Treasuries—were Tether's primary sources of income.
Tether also issues a different stablecoin, USAT, which launched on January 27 under a federal bank charter held by Anchorage Digital Bank, while USDT continues to operate as its offshore product.
The reserve report Ardoino referenced is Tether's third-quarter attestation from accounting firm BDO, released on October 30 and covering assets as of September 30. An attestation is a limited review that verifies reported assets existed on a specific date, rather than a full audit. These reserves include Bitcoin, gold, secured loans, and Treasuries, with Bitcoin counted as collateral backing USDT.
Ardoino's statement introduces a separate category of Bitcoin. He explained that the extra coins are company investments, meaning Tether purchased them with its own funds, and they do not count as backing for USDT. This indicates that Tether's total Bitcoin holdings exceed the figures presented in reserve reports, and these additional coins carry no promise for USDT holders.
In May 2023, Tether communicated via its official X account that it would regularly invest a portion of its net operating profits into Bitcoin. In 2025, Ardoino dispelled a rumor regarding Tether selling Bitcoin for gold by stating, "False. We buy and hold both." However, his recent claims did not clarify whether the same profit strategy applies to these latest purchases or when Tether acquired the additional 50,000 coins.
Tether's 150,000 BTC Claim Comes Without Wallet Addresses
Analysts currently have no way to independently verify the 150,000 BTC figure since Tether has not provided wallet addresses or attestation for these additional coins. CoinGecko's public treasury tracker also does not independently confirm this information. Moreover, Ardoino leads a company that benefits if Bitcoin's value rises, so this claim comes from a source with a strong incentive to portray a bullish outlook.
If the stated number is accurate, Tether would rank among the largest Bitcoin holders globally, although a few entities surpass it. Strategy Inc. reported holding 849,327 BTC in a filing dated November 2, while CoinGecko indicates that the U.S. government holds 329,693 BTC and China possesses 190,000 BTC. Should Tether's claim be correct, it would rank ahead of the United Kingdom's 61,245 BTC and far outpace MARA Holdings, the largest U.S.-listed Bitcoin miner, which holds 35,577 BTC.
Tether's Bitcoin Disclosure Adds No New Demand
The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF( NASDAQ: IBIT ), the largest U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin fund, reports that 99.93% of its assets are in Bitcoin. As a result, every share purchase directly increases demand for Bitcoin. On the other hand, Tether's announcement refers to coins it already owns and does not specify any new purchases, plans for future acquisitions, or budget allocations. A commitment to buy a set amount regularly could provide stronger support for Bitcoin's price.
Even a steadfast long-term holder may need to sell because of financial obligations. For instance, Strategy Inc. has sold approximately $432 million worth of Bitcoin this year to cover preferred dividends and repurchase its preferred stock, which takes precedence over common shareholder dividends. For Tether, the bigger concern is its reserve holdings, as a rapid increase in USDT redemptions could force the company to liquidate assets quickly to meet obligations.
Regulatory changes could also add pressure on Tether. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's new GENIUS Act rules, finalized on October 21, will take effect on January 18, 2027, and encompass foreign issuers, which may impact stablecoin operations going forward.
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