Tether, the issuer of the world’s most widely used stablecoin, USDT, has evolved over the years into one of the most profitable and resilient firms within the crypto space. 

Under the leadership of CEO Paolo Ardoino, Tether has broadened its focus beyond digital assets, becoming a significant player in the commodity market, particularly with substantial gold reserves.

Tether’s Gold Ambition

Recent reports from the Financial Times reveal that Tether has stirred the gold markets this year by becoming the largest holder of the precious metal outside of central banks. 

According to Bryce Elder’s analysis, the crypto firm’s stockpile is comparable to that of smaller central banks, such as those in Korea, Hungary, and Greece. Last quarter, the company’s gold acquisitions accounted for nearly 2% of total gold demand, equating to almost 12% of central bank purchases.

Sources indicate that Tether’s investments in gold reflect the belief among its insiders that the commodity serves as “a superior store of value” and a “better hedge against inflation” compared to digital currencies. 

Although Tether has significant holdings in Bitcoin, its investment in gold has surpassed its exposure to the leading cryptocurrency. Throughout the year, Tether purchased 26 tons of gold, bringing its total gold stockpile to over 116 tons. 

However, Tether’s ambitions in the gold sector extend beyond mere accumulation; the firm is actively pursuing deals related to gold royalty companies, which finance mining operations in exchange for a percentage of future revenues.

Plans To Dominate The Gold Royalty Space

In June, Tether Investments—responsible for managing the company’s profits—acquired a minority stake in Toronto-listed Elemental Altus for $105 million. An additional $100 million was invested in September amid Elemental’s merger with rival EMX, resulting in Tether holding a controlling stake in the company. 

Insiders suggest that the crypto giant has broader plans, aiming to consolidate small to mid-cap gold royalty firms to strengthen its position in the market. “Their goal is to keep consolidating the small to mid-cap gold royalty space,” said an insider familiar with Tether’s strategy. 

However, while some view this approach as savvy, others are skeptical, with one commodity industry executive labeling Tether as “the weirdest company I have ever dealt with.”

Gold royalties offer the company a unique advantage over traditional bullion; they provide fixed exposure to gold, insulating the stablecoin issuer from fluctuations in gold prices. Yet, amid these ventures, Tether has faced scrutiny regarding its financials. 

NewsBTC reported on Wednesday that S&P Global downgraded Tether’s assets to its lowest rating, “weak,” citing concerns over the firm’s rising exposure to high-risk reserve assets, which could undermine the collateral backing its stablecoin during a financial crisis.

According to a research note from S&P Global, this downgrade was part of a new assessment system introduced in 2023, which classifies stablecoins on a scale from 1 to 5 based on risk. 

The firm’s USDT stablecoin received a rating of “5 (weak),” reflecting a decline from its previous score of “4 (constrained).” Analysts expressed concerns regarding Tether’s limited transparency concerning the creditworthiness of its custodians and counterparties.

In response to the downgrade, the firm’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to address the concerns, stating, “We wear your loathing with pride.” 

He contended that traditional credit rating methodologies used by agencies like S&P stem from “outdated systems that have proven unreliable,” leading to renewed regulatory scrutiny of these legacy models.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com