Tether Holdings SA, the El Salvador-based issuer behind the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has confirmed that it now holds $8 billion worth of gold stored in a private vault it built and fully controls in Switzerland.
According to a Bloomberg report published earlier today, Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino revealed that the company currently holds close to 80 tons of gold.
The new development places Tether among the largest non-government and non-bank gold holders globally.
While the facility’s precise location remains undisclosed for security reasons, Ardoino claimed, “We have our own vault. I believe it’s the most secure vault in the world.”
Tether has ambitious plans to expand this reserve, citing growing global interest in gold as a hedge against geopolitical and financial instability.
Gold Now a Strategic Reserve Asset for Tether Amid Dollar Concerns
Tether’s move into gold storage is closely aligned with its broader investment strategy.
The company’s stablecoin USDT, which maintains a 1:1 peg to the US dollar, has a total circulation of $159 billion.
Tether generates revenue by investing users’ fiat collateral into traditional financial assets like U.S. Treasuries.
However, the latest March report shows that nearly 5% of its reserves are now held in precious metals.
Tether also issues XAUT, a gold-backed token with each unit representing one ounce of physical gold stored in Switzerland.
The diversification signals the company’s long-term vision of reducing dependency on fiat currencies, especially amid concerns over rising U.S. debt.
“Gold, I think, should logically be a safer asset than any national currency,” Ardoino stated, adding that more investors may pivot to alternatives like gold as fiscal uncertainty deepens.
Strategic Vault Ownership Lowers Costs and Ensures Full Control
One of the most surprising elements of this development is Tether’s decision to construct and operate its own gold vault, rather than relying on third-party custodians that dominate the precious metals industry.
Ardoino noted that the move was primarily cost-driven but also gives Tether unparalleled control over its physical assets.
By sidestepping traditional vault operators, the company avoids annual storage fees and ensures end-to-end oversight of the gold that backs its digital assets.
The recent development not only enhances security but positions Tether to act independently of conventional financial and storage institutions.
The development reinforces its stance as a decentralized, yet asset-backed player in the crypto space.
Also Read: Tether CEO Predicts 1 Trillion AI Agents Trading In USDT And Bitcoin
Tether Expands Global Footprint Through Education and Sports Ventures
In parallel with its gold strategy, Tether has been aggressively expanding its presence in other sectors.
Most notably, the company recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zanzibar to advance blockchain and digital asset education.
The agreement will explore integrating both USDT and XAUT into local payment systems like the Zanmalipo gateway.
Through workshops and academic programs, the partnership aims to build technical capacity around blockchain, stablecoins, and decentralized finance in the region.
The move reflects Tether’s strategy to drive real-world adoption of its digital assets by focusing on education and utility in developing markets.
Crypto Giant Enters European Football Scene With Major Stake in Juventus
In a bold move beyond finance, Tether has also entered the sports investment arena by acquiring a 10.7% ownership stake in Italian football giant Juventus.
Valued at €128 million, this acquisition makes Tether the club’s second-largest shareholder, and the company is now actively pursuing a seat on the club’s board.
The acquisition is part of Tether’s growing strategy to link crypto with real-world assets and influence cultural sectors such as sports, entertainment, and infrastructure.
As the company extends its portfolio from digital assets to physical gold, education, and sports, Tether is increasingly positioning itself as a diversified global player beyond the confines of the crypto industry.
Also Read: Tether to Launch Serverless Password Manager Amid 16 Billion Credential Leak