Tether is ramping up its involvement in the gold sector, holding talks with miners, refiners and royalty firms as it seeks to deploy billions into bullion-related investments. The move follows a string of disclosures showing the stablecoin issuer already holds substantial physical gold and has been buying stakes in royalty companies.
According to reports, Tether plans to increase its stake in Toronto-listed Elemental Altus Royalties by roughly $100 million, building on a previous 37.8% position. The firm disclosed $8.7 billion of gold bars held in a Zurich vault in its Q2 2025 attestation, and operates the Tether Gold product backed by multiple tons of metal.
CEO Paolo Ardoino has framed gold as “the natural Bitcoin,” arguing bullion can act as a reserve asset and a counterweight to fiat. Tether’s moves come as sovereign actors also revisit gold: El Salvador bought 13,999 ounces of bullion for $50 million, its first central bank purchase since 1990, taking reserves to about 58,105 ounces.
For crypto markets the significance is twofold: institutional players are treating gold as a complementary hedge rather than a rival, and stablecoin issuers are expanding collateral strategies beyond cash and crypto. That said, investors should note risks — physical storage, regulatory scrutiny and market liquidity can affect outcomes.
Source: Decrypt. Read the original coverage for full details.