Tether

Tether has scaled back plans to raise up to $20 billion, with advisers now exploring a smaller raise of around $5 billion after investors pushed back on its $500 billion valuation. The company said the higher figure was never a target and highlighted that it made about $10 billion in profit last year, reducing the need for external funding.

Tether increased its gold exposure by about 27 tonnes in the fourth quarter of 2025, bringing its buying pace closer to that of major central banks as it expanded reserves backing its stablecoins. The move came as gold prices hit record highs above US$5,000 per ounce, driven by strong demand from investors, central banks and retail buyers.

Tether froze around $182 million in USDT across five Tron wallets on 11 January 2026, locking the funds while keeping them visible on-chain. The move appears linked to US authorities and follows Tether’s policy to halt wallets tied to sanctioned or illegal activity.

Tether has hired two senior gold traders from HSBC to expand its growing bullion operations, adding to its $12 billion in physical gold reserves. The move marks a deeper push into hard assets as the company shifts its stablecoin backing away from traditional fiat investments.

Tether’s USDT stablecoin has surpassed 500 million users worldwide, marking a major milestone in global financial inclusion. The company says this growth shows how digital dollars are becoming a vital tool for savings and payments, especially in emerging markets.

Japan is set to approve its first yen-backed stablecoin this autumn, led by fintech firm JPYC. The token will be tied one-to-one with the yen and supported by bank deposits and government bonds.

A U.S. judge has allowed Celsius to sue Tether over the forced sale of 39,545 Bitcoin during its 2022 collapse, which Celsius says caused over $4 billion in losses. The court rejected Tether’s argument about being outside U.S. jurisdiction, meaning key claims like fraud and breach of contract will go ahead.

Tether bought $459 million worth of Bitcoin to support the launch of Twenty One Capital, a new investment firm preparing to go public. The company now holds over 36,000 BTC and plans to expand further after merging with Cantor Equity Partners.

Tether has purchased 8,888 BTC for $735 million, increasing its Bitcoin holdings to 92,647 BTC, as part of its strategy to strengthen reserves with Bitcoin.

The T3 Financial Crime Unit froze $9 million from the $1.4 billion stolen in the Bybit hack, believed to be carried out by North Korean hackers. for information leading to asset recovery.