Paolo Ardoino disclosed the figure during remarks at a Bitcoin forum in Lugano, Switzerland.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the company behind the world's largest stablecoin now holds about 150,000 Bitcoin. He shared the figure at a Bitcoin forum held in Lugano, Switzerland. The remarks were reported separately by CryptoBriefing, Coinfomania, and crypto.news.
Tether issues USDT, the dominant dollar-pegged stablecoin used across crypto trading and payments. The company has for several years directed a portion of its profits into Bitcoin purchases. Ardoino has previously described this strategy as a way to diversify Tether's reserves beyond cash and short-term government debt.
A holding of roughly 150,000 Bitcoin would rank Tether among the largest known corporate owners of the asset. Public trackers of corporate Bitcoin treasuries have shown a small group of companies, including business intelligence firm Strategy, holding comparable or larger amounts. Exact rankings shift as companies buy, sell, or disclose updated figures.
Tether's reserve composition has long drawn scrutiny from regulators, analysts, and competitors. The company backs each USDT token with reserves it says include cash, cash equivalents, short-term debt instruments, and other assets such as Bitcoin and gold. Critics have at times questioned the transparency of those reserves, pushing Tether to publish periodic attestations.
Adding Bitcoin to reserves introduces a different risk profile than holding only cash or treasuries. Bitcoin's price is considerably more volatile than government debt. Tether has argued that its overall reserve base remains large enough to absorb swings in any single asset, including Bitcoin.
The disclosure arrives amid continued growth in stablecoin usage worldwide. USDT remains widely used for trading, remittances, and as a dollar proxy in regions with limited banking access. Any shift in how Tether manages its backing assets draws attention given the stablecoin's scale and its role underpinning liquidity across crypto markets.
Ardoino did not, according to the reporting, specify a timeline for the accumulation or detail a target holding size. He also did not provide a breakdown of when specific purchases occurred. The figure appears to represent a cumulative total built over time rather than a single recent acquisition.
Tether has periodically published updates on its Bitcoin holdings as part of broader reserve attestations. Those filings typically come from independent accounting reviews rather than real-time audits. Analysts tracking corporate Bitcoin treasuries often rely on such disclosures alongside blockchain analysis to estimate company holdings.
Market Impact
News of Tether's Bitcoin position may reinforce the view that large stablecoin issuers are becoming structurally significant holders within Bitcoin's supply. Because Tether's reserves underpin a stablecoin used throughout global trading infrastructure, any change in how those reserves are allocated can draw interest from regulators and market participants monitoring systemic risk in stablecoin issuance.
The disclosure is unlikely to immediately affect USDT's peg, since Tether has stated its Bitcoin holdings represent a portion of a much larger reserve base. However, continued accumulation by major corporate holders, including stablecoin issuers, may factor into broader discussions about available liquid Bitcoin supply and institutional demand trends.
The Lugano disclosure adds another data point to the ongoing record of Tether's reserve strategy. Further detail is likely to emerge through the company's regular attestation reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much Bitcoin does Tether say it holds?
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the company holds about 150,000 Bitcoin, according to remarks made at a Bitcoin forum in Lugano.
Why does Tether hold Bitcoin alongside cash reserves?
Tether has said it allocates a portion of its profits to Bitcoin to diversify its reserve assets beyond cash and short-term government debt.
Does this disclosure affect the USDT stablecoin peg?
The reporting does not indicate any immediate effect on USDT's peg, since Bitcoin is described as one component of Tether's broader reserve holdings.
Where was the Bitcoin holdings figure announced?
Ardoino shared the figure during an appearance at a Bitcoin forum in Lugano, Switzerland, as reported by CryptoBriefing, Coinfomania, and crypto.news.
