Another quarter draws to a close, and with it, another significant move from Tether, the stablecoin giant. Onchain data shows the company added a hefty 8,888.88 bitcoin (BTC) to its reserves. That is roughly a billion dollars worth of the digital gold, moved right at the end of Q3 2025.
- Tether, the stablecoin issuer, has significantly increased its Bitcoin reserves by adding approximately 8,888 BTC, valued at around $1 billion, at the close of Q3 2025. This acquisition was confirmed by onchain data and analytics firms, originating from a Bitfinex hot wallet.
- This move aligns with Tether’s established strategy of allocating 15% of its quarterly net profits into Bitcoin since May 2023, steadily growing its holdings. The company also holds substantial amounts in U.S. Treasurys and is diversifying into various tech sectors and bitcoin mining.
- Tether’s influence extends beyond Bitcoin, with its USDT stablecoin used by over 400 million people globally. The company is also launching a new U.S.-regulated stablecoin, USAT, signaling a push for broader market acceptance and regulatory clarity.
This isn’t a quiet shuffle of coins. Analysts like Onchain Lens quickly spotted the transfer. They pointed to labeling from Nansen, an analytics platform, for an address starting with “bc1qj.” Arkham, another data firm, also tags this address as part of Tether’s bitcoin holdings. The funds arrived from a Bitfinex hot wallet (a cryptocurrency wallet connected to the internet) around 11:06 a.m. UTC.
Tether hasn’t made a public announcement about this latest acquisition. But the address is familiar. It’s where Tether has parked its bitcoin before. The timing, too, fits a pattern. They often move bitcoin to this reserve wallet as a quarter ends. And that specific number, 8,888 BTC? We saw it before, at the close of the first quarter, transferred to this very same address.
Here’s a small wrinkle, though. The bitcoin came from Bitfinex, a centralized exchange. Tether and Bitfinex share the same parent company. So, was this a fresh purchase of new coins, or did Tether just shift existing reserves around? It’s a fair question. The Block, a crypto news outlet, did reach out to Tether for some clarity.
Tether began collecting bitcoin back in September 2022. Then, in May 2023, they made it official. They would put 15% of their net profits each quarter into bitcoin. It’s a clear strategy to spread out their holdings, a long-term play. Since that announcement, their reserves have steadily grown.
If this new acquisition is confirmed, Tether’s bitcoin pile would grow to nearly 109,410 BTC. At current prices, that’s about $12.4 billion. This places them as the second-largest known private company holder, according to Bitcoin Treasuries data. Block One leads private companies with 164,000 BTC. If you count public companies, Strategy holds the top spot with 640,031 BTC.
It’s worth noting that Twenty One, a bitcoin treasury company backed by Tether, also holds a significant amount. They have 43,514 BTC, worth around $4.9 billion. It shows a wider commitment to bitcoin within their ecosystem.
Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO, already confirmed a substantial holding earlier this year. At Bitcoin 2025 in May, he stated the stablecoin issuer held over 100,000 BTC. He also mentioned more than 50 tons of gold in their reserves. Ardoino, by the way, also serves as the CTO for Bitfinex, which explains the close ties.
The “bc1qj” address itself is quite a sight. It ranks among the top ten single address holders of bitcoin. It sits alongside several centralized exchange cold wallets (offline cryptocurrency storage) and the infamous Mt. Gox hack address. That’s some serious company for a wallet.
Bitcoin is trading around $113,500 these days, according to The Block’s price page. So, a billion dollars worth of bitcoin is a significant chunk, even for a company as large as Tether. It certainly makes waves.
Ardoino later gave a subtle nod that this was indeed a fresh acquisition. He responded “yeah” to an X post that tracked the onchain transfer. He added a popular meme that read, “it ain’t much, but it’s honest work.” It’s a casual way to confirm a massive financial move, wouldn’t you say?
Tether’s Expanding Footprint
Tether’s influence stretches far beyond just bitcoin. Ardoino has stated that USDT, their flagship stablecoin, is used by over 400 million people globally. He noted its growth at a pace of 35 million wallets per quarter. Much of this growth focuses on developing countries, helping to strengthen the U.S. dollar’s reach.
Consider this: Tether holds over $127 billion in U.S. Treasurys as of Q2. That places them among the top 20 largest holders. They stand ahead of sovereign nations like the UAE and Germany, and just behind Saudi Arabia. These are Treasury Department statistics, not small numbers. It shows the sheer scale of their financial operations.
The company itself is lean, with a team of fewer than 200 people. Yet, in 2024, they generated approximately $13 billion in profit. That’s a remarkable figure for a team of that size. It speaks to the efficiency and scale of their stablecoin operations.
Tether has also been busy putting capital into various projects outside of stablecoins. They’ve branched into artificial intelligence, telecommunications, data centers, and energy infrastructure. They are even making moves in bitcoin mining. Ardoino recently suggested Tether could become the biggest bitcoin miner by the end of 2025. They are not standing still.
Just recently, Tether also announced USAT. This is a new U.S.-regulated, dollar-backed stablecoin. It aims to serve American users specifically, working alongside USDT’s global reach. It’s a move that signals a desire for broader acceptance and regulatory clarity in key markets.
USDT remains the largest stablecoin in the world. Its total supply is worth about $175 billion, according to The Block’s Data Dashboard. This dominance gives Tether a unique position in the crypto market, a central hub for liquidity and trade.
A Glimpse Into the Future
Earlier this week, Matt Hougan, the CIO of Bitwise, shared a bold prediction. He suggested Tether could become the “most profitable company in history.” He sees their growth trajectory potentially leading to $3 trillion in assets. This would allow them to surpass Saudi Aramco’s record $120 billion profit haul from 2024. It’s a big claim, but one that highlights Tether’s rapid expansion and financial power.
When you look at Tether’s moves, from accumulating bitcoin to investing in diverse tech sectors, you see a company building a wide-ranging empire. They are not just a stablecoin issuer anymore. They are a significant player in the broader digital economy, with a growing influence on global finance.
The latest bitcoin acquisition is another piece in this expanding puzzle. It shows a continued commitment to their long-term strategy. It also reinforces their position as a major holder of the world’s most prominent cryptocurrency. What will their next quarterly move bring?
