Stablecoin Giant Tether Expands Bitcoin Treasury to Over 96,000 BTC
According to Cointelegraph, Tether purchased 8,888 Bitcoin on December 31, 2025. The acquisition increased the stablecoin issuer's disclosed Bitcoin holdings to more than 96,000 BTC. CEO Paolo Ardoino confirmed the purchase on New Year's Eve.
The transaction valued approximately $780 million at the time of acquisition. Tether now operates the fifth-largest Bitcoin address globally. The company ranks behind Binance, Robinhood, and Bitfinex in total holdings.
The purchase follows Tether's established quarterly investment strategy. The company allocates up to 15% of its net operating profits to Bitcoin every three months. This approach transforms a portion of stablecoin earnings into hard asset reserves.
Why This Purchase Matters
Tether's Bitcoin accumulation directly strengthens its reserve backing for USDT tokens. The company supports more than $140 billion worth of USDT in circulation. Bitcoin now represents a core component alongside U.S. Treasuries and physical gold.
The stablecoin issuer holds approximately 116 metric tons of physical gold. Yahoo Finance reports this positions Tether as the largest private gold holder globally. The diversified reserve strategy reduces reliance on any single asset class.
S&P Global recently downgraded USDT's rating to weak over transparency concerns. The Bitcoin allocation demonstrates Tether's commitment to maintaining liquid, verifiable reserves. Each quarterly purchase provides public proof of ongoing reserve management.
Impact on Corporate Bitcoin Treasury Trend
Tether's acquisition reflects a broader pattern of corporate Bitcoin accumulation in 2025. According to Decrypt, multiple companies adopted similar treasury strategies throughout the year. Strategy, Metaplanet, and Twenty One Capital lead among public company holders.
Public companies now control approximately 4.07% of Bitcoin's total supply. This percentage increased from 3.3% earlier in 2025. Corporate demand creates sustained buying pressure separate from retail investor activity.
Traditional financial institutions are entering the stablecoin market with regulatory frameworks taking shape. Major banks including JPMorgan and Bank of America explore unified stablecoin offerings. Competition may push existing issuers to maintain stronger reserve compositions.
As we previously documented in our analysis of national Bitcoin reserve strategies, governments increasingly view Bitcoin as a hedge against fiat currency risks. Corporate adoption validates Bitcoin's role in professional treasury management. Tether's consistent purchasing pattern suggests long term confidence in Bitcoin as a reserve asset.
