Tether, the company behind the USDT stablecoin, has announced its acquisition of 27 tons of gold during the fourth quarter of 2025. This move follows a previous purchase of 26 tons in the third quarter, indicating Tether”s ongoing strategy to diversify its reserves. These gold purchases align with a significant surge in gold prices, which have recently reached record highs, while Bitcoin, often referred to as digital gold, has struggled, recently dropping to its lowest levels in 2026.
In a statement regarding its latest acquisition, Tether highlighted its position as one of the top 30 largest gold holders worldwide. Tether”s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, remarked that this substantial purchase elevates Tether to the status of a sovereign gold holder. “Through Tether Gold, we are operating at a scale that now places the Tether Gold Investment Fund alongside sovereign gold holders, and that carries real responsibility,” Ardoino emphasized.
Following this recent gold purchase, Tether”s total gold holdings have reached 550 tons. However, it is important to note that the majority of the assets backing USDT are held in US Treasury bills, with gold representing only 7% of Tether”s overall reserve assets. The increase in Tether”s gold reserves coincides with a surge in demand for precious metals, particularly as gold prices have crossed the $5,000 mark for the first time.
As Tether increases its gold holdings, Bitcoin continues to face downward pressure. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $88,180, reflecting a nearly 9% decline over the past two weeks. Prominent Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff has dismissed the cryptocurrency”s status as a reserve asset, labeling it a “complete waste of capital.” In a recent interview, Schiff criticized various nations” efforts to create a Bitcoin strategic reserve, suggesting such moves serve merely as a bailout fund for the digital asset.
Schiff further asserted that unlike Bitcoin, gold possesses intrinsic value as it can be used for transactions, thereby qualifying it as “real money.” He indicated that Bitcoin”s value is contingent upon market demand, with profits primarily going to those who invested in the cryptocurrency years earlier.
