Tether became a “gold vacuum cleaner”

Tether, the corporate that points the stablecoins USDT (pegged to the US greenback) and XAUT (pegged to gold), has intensified its technique of accumulating bodily gold, positioning itself as one of many major holders of the steel globally.

In accordance with a report for shoppers from the funding financial institution Jefferies that was launched at present, February 9 and was cited by numerous media, Tether’s bodily gold reserves reached no less than 148 tons as of January 31, 2026with an approximate worth of 23,000 million {dollars}.

This determine outcomes from the acquisition of round 26 tons in the course of the fourth quarter of 2025 and one other extra 6 tons in January 2026, which provides as much as an estimated whole of 32 tons in that interval.

These acquisitions have allowed Tether exceed the official gold reserves of nations resembling Australia, United Arab EmiratesQatar, South Korea and Greece, inserting it among the many 30 largest world bullion holders.

Construction and evolution of Tether gold reserves

The size of those purchases locations Tether in an uncommon place for a personal firm, in a context the place international locations’ central banks historically dominate world demand for the steel.

This dynamic has made Tether a real “gold vacuum cleaner” within the world market, absorbing vital volumes at a charge that surpasses that of many state actors.

Within the certification equivalent to the fourth quarter of 2025, the corporate said that, on the finish of that yr, Tether already had gold reserves valued at about $17 billion, equal to roughly 126 tons at then costs.

The construction included ingots of various sizes: 1,291 models of 12.5 kg (519,317 troy ounces), 15 of 1 kg (482,220 troy ounces) and 18 of 0.5 kg (289,332 troy ounces), as seen within the following desk. The troy ounce is the worldwide customary unit of weight for valuable metals resembling gold and is used to make sure accuracy in world measurements.

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, confirmed this technique in January, as reported by CriptoNoticias. The corporate buys gold at a charge of 1 or two tons per week and plans to take care of this stage for the approaching months.

Ardoino has described the objective of positioning Tether as one of many main holders of gold globally, much like the function of a central financial institution.

Concentrate on bodily gold and safety

Tether prioritizes holding bodily gold, which is saved in a former nuclear bunker situated in Switzerland, owned by Tether, and guarded by a number of layers of safety, together with thick metal doorways. The corporate has not revealed additional particulars concerning the actual location or different particular traits. from the location for safety causes. In accordance with Ardoino, this set up ensures the integrity of the asset.

The chief has emphasised that gold is valued for its liquidity and for being a reserve asset with out counterparty debt.

This imaginative and prescient is a part of a interval of sturdy revaluation of gold, which reached a historic most above $5,500 per ounce on the finish of January 2026, pushed by the seek for protected havens within the face of macroeconomic uncertainty and diversification away from the US greenback. Though the value underwent subsequent corrections, it stays at $5,000 per ounce in February 2026, as seen within the chart.

Tether exhibits its monetary place

Tether’s certification reviews as of year-end 2025 present a strong monetary basis supporting these acquisitions: whole belongings and reserves of $192 billionover 6.3 billion in extra reserves and 100% backing in liquid belongings for all tokens issued.

This help, along with gold, is supported by United States Treasury bonds valued at 122 billion {dollars}. Tether is among the world’s largest holders of US debt. Likewise in bitcoin (BTC) with 96,184 BTC, valued at round $8.4 billion, in response to its report for the fourth quarter of 2025.

Diversification combines stability (bonds and money) with publicity to store-of-value belongings (gold and bitcoin). Its personal funding portfolio exceeds $20 billion, which supplies the capability to proceed with the gold accumulation technique within the quick and medium time period.

This transfer displays a strategic diversification in Tether’s steadiness sheet, combining its function within the stablecoin ecosystem with rising publicity to store-of-value belongings.