Tether ended the year by purchasing 8,888 BTC on New Year's Eve, which, according to CEO Paolo Ardoino, increased its disclosed Bitcoin reserves to over 96,000 BTC. Management stated that the latest batch cost approximately $780 million at the time of the deal. This purchase is part of the company’s regular accumulation strategy, as outlined in official communications.
Major Bitcoin Purchase by Tether
The amount of 8,888 coins was the latest in a series of quarterly acquisitions by Tether, which management describes as systematic position building. CEO Paolo Ardoino confirmed the purchase and the total size of the company’s disclosed reserves. The value of this batch was estimated by the company at around $780 million at the time of purchase.
Tether’s Position Among Largest BTC Holders
According to disclosed data, Tether’s Bitcoin address ranks fifth largest after well-known exchange and brokerage platforms, and the company holds the second position among private corporate BTC treasuries. Tether regularly allocates up to 15% of its profits every three months to Bitcoin purchases, explaining frequent changes in its reserve structure. For more context on corporate treasuries, see the article on corporate BTC reserves, which reviews various companies’ positions.
Reserve Diversification: Gold and Bitcoin
Bitcoin isn’t the only “hard” asset in Tether’s portfolio: in Q3 2025, the company acquired 26 tons of gold, bringing total gold reserves to 116 tons. These holdings rank among the thirty largest gold reserves worldwide by volume. Meanwhile, rating agency S&P downgraded USDT’s rating from “constrained” to “weak,” citing risks related to transparency and reserve concentration.
The Corporate Race for Bitcoin
Tether’s purchase fits into a broader trend of corporate Bitcoin accumulation: some companies are building significant treasury reserves. For example, Twenty One Capital held 43,514 BTC at the time of reporting, Metaplanet increased its reserves by 4,279 BTC to 35,102 BTC, and Strategy continues to grow its stack beyond 670,000 BTC. In the context of recent deals, companies associated with Tether have also made major asset acquisitions — see the article on Peak Mining purchase for one such transaction.
Why It Matters
For miners with 1–1000 devices, this news generally won’t affect daily operations: access to electricity, farm setup, and local rates remain unchanged. However, the increase in corporate reserves highlights growing demand from major players, influencing the overall Bitcoin ownership landscape and potentially impacting market sentiment and news coverage.
What To Do?
- Monitor official Tether announcements and regulatory news to understand changes in reserve structure and associated risks.
- Assess how much your crypto profits/reserves depend on external factors and diversify income storage if necessary.
- Ensure wallet security and private key backups — fundamental protection for any miner.
- If involved in corporate schemes or investments, keep documentation and transaction confirmations handy for transparency and accountability.