Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino just set the record straight, no, Tether ain’t selling off their Bitcoin stash to load up on gold, despite what that YouTube gossip king Clive Thompson is shouting about.
Buying, not selling
Clive Thompson, armed with Tether’s Q1 and Q2 2025 attestation data from BDO, noticed Tether’s Bitcoin holdings dropping from 92,650 BTC in Q1 down to 83,274 in Q2. He waved the sell-off flag.
But hold the phone. Samson Mow, CEO of Jan3, stepped in like a seasoned detective, revealing this drop wasn’t a sale but a transfer of almost 20,000 BTC to something called Twenty One Capital, or XXI, a Bitcoin-native heavy hitter.
Turns out, Tether moved 14,000 BTC in June and 5,800 BTC in July to power up XXI, a financial platform helmed by the infamous Strike CEO Jack Mallers.
When you add back those coins, Tether actually increased its net Bitcoin stash by a cool 4,624 BTC over Q1. Ardoino’s message?
“We moved the crypto, didn’t sell it.”
Smooth move, confirmed with a calm that would make even the toughest boss nod in approval.
The first gold purchase in decades
But the plot thickens. This denial comes right as experts highlighted that El Salvador, the nation known for adopting Bitcoin, surprised everyone with a gold buy, nearly 14,000 troy ounces worth $50 million.
That’s their first gold purchase since 1990. Talk about diversifying the family portfolio!
They even hold a quite nice Bitcoin reserve of 6,292 BTC but cooled off on new buys this year, because the IMF didn’t like the plan much.
Company investments
What’s Tether’s strategy amidst this shifting scene? Ardoino paints a picture of a company investing profits into a balanced mix, Bitcoin, gold, land, like a wise capo making sure his assets don’t all crash together.
So, despite whispers and rumors, it seems Tether keeps a tight grip on its Bitcoin, moving it when needed but doubling down on stability.
It’s a tale of smart moves and steady assets in an often crazy market, keeping investors reassured amid the noise.
Disclosure:This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Kriptoworld.com accepts no liability for any errors in the articles or for any financial loss resulting from incorrect information.
Cryptocurrency and Web3 expert, founder of Kriptoworld
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With years of experience covering the blockchain space, András delivers insightful reporting on DeFi, tokenization, altcoins, and crypto regulations shaping the digital economy.
📅 Published: September 9, 2025 • 🕓 Last updated: September 9, 2025
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