news
tether is becoming one of the biggest corporate bitcoin holders, with ceo paolo ardoino revealing that the company now holds around 150,000 btc, worth approximately $11.5 billion.
ardoino shared the figure during his appearance at the plan ₿ forum in lugano, switzerland, on november 3.
what makes this interesting is that tether isn't simply buying bitcoin with money raised from investors. it is using profits generated by its stablecoin business to build its bitcoin position.
the company introduced this strategy in 2023, when it announced that it could allocate up to 15% of its net realized operating profits towards bitcoin purchases.
$4.5 billion in profit during 2026
tether's business has also been generating substantial profits.
during the first nine months of 2026, the company reported approximately $4.5 billion in net operating profit, including $1.5 billion during the third quarter.
its latest third-quarter figures showed:
1) $191.45 billion in total reserve assets
2) $183.50 billion in liabilities
3) $7.95 billion in excess reserves
4) approximately $132.4 billion in direct and indirect us treasury exposure
most of tether's income comes from its large holdings of us treasury bills and other short-term investments.
this gives the company a significant source of recurring income, which helps explain how it can continue expanding its investments.
tether is becoming a major bitcoin whale
with approximately 150,000 btc, tether is now among the largest corporate bitcoin holders.
strategy remains far ahead with its much larger bitcoin treasury, but tether's position is still impressive.
another interesting detail is its user base. ardoino said tether serves more than 730 million users worldwide and adds around 30 million new wallets every quarter.
apart from bitcoin, tether has also been investing in gold, energy, bitcoin mining infrastructure and other technology projects.
my take
what i find interesting about tether is its business model.
most companies need to raise money through debt or stock offerings to build a large bitcoin treasury. tether has a different advantage: it generates billions through its stablecoin business and can use a portion of those profits to accumulate bitcoin.
i also think its treasury strategy is worth watching. if tether continues generating strong profits, it could keep adding bitcoin without depending entirely on external fundraising.
however, holding a large amount of bitcoin also exposes the company to market volatility. a falling btc price could reduce the value of its holdings, even if its stablecoin business remains profitable.
my final thoughts
tether is no longer just a company behind one of the biggest stablecoins in crypto. it is also becoming a major player in the corporate bitcoin market.
150,000 btc is a huge position, and i will be interested to see how much further the company expands its holdings over the coming years.
what do you think? could tether eventually become the second-largest corporate bitcoin holder by a much bigger margin, or do you think strategy will remain far ahead?
disclaimer: this article is for informational purposes only and is not financial advice. always do your own research before making investment decisions.
