Tether, the issuer of the world's largest stablecoin, has grown its Bitcoin holdings to approximately 150,000 BTC, according to CEO Paolo Ardoino, who disclosed the figure during a keynote at the Plan ₿ Forum in Lugano, Switzerland.

The holdings are worth more than $11.5 billion, Ardoino said. The disclosure underscores Tether's standing as one of the industry's largest corporate Bitcoin holders and reinforces the company's long-term cryptocurrency investment strategy. For readers tracking the stablecoin sector, the figure offers a window into how the issuer of the largest stablecoin balances conservative reserve assets against longer-term crypto exposure.

Holdings Climb Sharply During 2026

The latest figure represents a substantial increase from earlier in the year. In April, CoinDesk reported that Tether had added $70 million in Bitcoin to its reserves, bringing holdings above 97,000 BTC; previous figures placed the company's position between 96,000 and 100,000 BTC. The jump indicates Tether accumulated roughly 50,000 additional Bitcoin during 2026, though the company has not publicly detailed every transaction behind the reported expansion.

Tether began regularly purchasing Bitcoin in May 2023. Under its investment strategy, the company allocates up to 15% of quarterly net realized operating profits toward Bitcoin acquisitions. The approach is designed to build long-term cryptocurrency exposure while maintaining substantial investments in traditional financial assets, although Bitcoin's price volatility introduces additional risk to the firm's overall financial position. Because acquisitions are tied to realized profits rather than a fixed purchase schedule, the pace of accumulation moves with Tether's earnings cycle.

US Treasury Holdings Remain Central to Reserves

Despite its expanding Bitcoin portfolio, Tether continues to maintain significant exposure to US government securities. According to its third-quarter 2026 reserve attestation, the company held approximately $132.4 billion in direct and indirect US Treasury investments, including Treasury bills and related repurchase agreements.

Tether also reported excess reserves of approximately $7.95 billion at the end of September, a substantial increase from the $4.1 billion recorded in the second quarter. Excess reserves are assets held beyond what is needed to fully back USDT in circulation, providing an additional cushion for tokenholders. The company generated approximately $1.5 billion in net operating profit during the third quarter, and its total reserve assets reached approximately $191.5 billion.

Scale, Reach, and Caveats

Tether's growing Bitcoin holdings illustrate how the stablecoin issuer continues to expand beyond its core USDT business. Ardoino also highlighted the company's global reach, claiming more than 730 million users worldwide, with approximately 30 million new wallets joining its ecosystem each quarter.

The reported position places Tether among the cryptocurrency industry's largest corporate investors. The 150,000 BTC figure, however, remains based on Ardoino's disclosure rather than independently verified wallet balances. Future quarterly reserve attestations will be the clearest place to track whether the Bitcoin position continues to grow and how the broader reserve mix shifts over time. Continued accumulation could deepen Tether's exposure to Bitcoin's long-term performance, while future price fluctuations will shape the value of its cryptocurrency investments.

Source: CryptoMeter io