Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether—the company behind the world’s largest stablecoin USDT-believes Bitcoin and gold will endure far longer than traditional fiat currencies. His statement follows renewed debate over Tether’s reserve strategy and ongoing rumors about potential shifts in the company’s asset allocation.
Tether’s Reserve Strategy Under Scrutiny
Ardoino’s remarks come as Tether continues to defend its decision to diversify part of its profits into what it considers “safe assets,” including Bitcoin, gold, and land. Despite speculation, Ardoino insists the company has not sold any of its Bitcoin holdings.
Some analysts interpreted the reported decline in Tether’s Bitcoin balance from 92,650 BTC in Q1 to 83,274 BTC in Q2 2025 as evidence of a selloff. However, Tether clarified that the change reflected a transfer of Bitcoin to its subsidiary investment firm, Twenty One Capital (XXI), rather than a liquidation.
This clarification highlights Ardoino’s broader message: that Bitcoin and gold serve as long-term stores of value in uncertain economic times. Tether’s latest disclosures show the company holding approximately $8.7 billion in gold, reinforcing this dual-asset reserve philosophy.
A Strategic Message to Critics
Ardoino’s assertion that “Bitcoin and gold will outlast any other currency” carries both symbolic and strategic weight. By emphasizing these assets, Tether seeks to strengthen market confidence and position itself as a stablecoin issuer with a more diversified—and arguably more resilient—reserve portfolio.
In the broader crypto landscape, aligning with the “digital gold” narrative also helps Tether differentiate itself from competitors like Circle’s USDC, which primarily holds fiat and cash equivalents.
Balancing Tradition and Innovation
From a traditional finance viewpoint, gold has proven its reliability as a store of value for centuries. Bitcoin, though much newer, continues to gain traction as a digital counterpart. Critics argue that Bitcoin’s volatility and regulatory uncertainty make it less stable than traditional reserve assets. Yet for Tether, combining both gold and Bitcoin may represent a hedge against fiat inflation and a signal of confidence in the future of decentralized assets.
Ardoino’s statement thus reflects more than a belief in Bitcoin it underscores a strategic positioning of Tether as a bridge between legacy finance and the evolving digital economy.
