Tether Boosts Bitcoin Reserves With 8888 BTC Raising Holdings Past 96000

TLDR

Table of Contents

Tether purchased 8888 Bitcoin during Q4 2025 as part of its reserve strategy.
Total Bitcoin holdings held by Tether now exceed 96000 BTC.
Tether’s Bitcoin reserves are valued at about $8.4 billion at current prices.
The purchase follows Tether’s policy to buy Bitcoin using operating profits.

Tether increased its Bitcoin reserves again as 2025 closed, adding thousands of coins in one move. The stablecoin issuer confirmed a fresh Bitcoin purchase during the fourth quarter. The addition pushed its total holdings beyond 96,000 BTC. The update reflects Tether’s ongoing reserve strategy and comes during a period of mixed sentiment in crypto markets, with Bitcoin prices easing after earlier gains.

Tether confirms new Bitcoin purchase in Q4 2025

Tether added 8,888 Bitcoin to its reserves during the fourth quarter of 2025. The company confirmed the purchase through a statement by its chief executive, Paolo Ardoino. He said the acquisition aligns with Tether’s long-term approach to holding Bitcoin as part of its reserves.

The latest purchase raised Tether’s total Bitcoin balance to more than 96,000 BTC. At current prices, the holdings are valued near $8.4 billion. On-chain data providers tracked the transfer into Tether’s reserve wallet earlier today, confirming the timing of the acquisition.

Tether(@Tether_to) withdrew another 8,889 $BTC($778.7M) from #Bitfinex to its reserve address 5 hours ago.
Tether now holds 96,370 $BTC($8.46B) in total.https://t.co/Ptsy2BsPoE pic.twitter.com/NLowYx79bx
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) January 1, 2026

Tether has not disclosed the exact price paid for the Bitcoin. However, blockchain records show movements consistent with large-scale buying activity. These transfers followed earlier withdrawals seen during November, which analysts linked to reserve management activity.

On-chain data shows steady accumulation pattern

Blockchain analysts observed multiple Bitcoin transfers connected to Tether during the quarter. One analyst known as Ember estimated total Q4 purchases at 9,850 BTC. This estimate includes earlier withdrawals of 961 BTC from Bitfinex during November.

The remaining 8,888 BTC were transferred to Tether’s reserve address in a single transaction. Analysts said the pattern matches Tether’s previous reserve additions. The firm often moves Bitcoin directly into long-term holding wallets after acquisition.

Data from Arkham Intelligence shows Tether now controls one of the largest known Bitcoin addresses. Based on public wallet rankings, the address places Tether among the top five holders globally. These rankings rely only on identifiable on-chain wallets.

Reserve strategy tied to operating profits

Tether outlined its Bitcoin strategy publicly in May 2023. At that time, the company said it would allocate up to 15% of realized operating profits to Bitcoin purchases. The policy aimed to diversify reserves backing the USDT stablecoin.

The company stated that Bitcoin offers liquidity and long-term value attributes. Tether emphasized that these purchases would not affect the full backing of USDT. Cash, short-term securities, and other assets remain part of the reserve structure.

Since that announcement, Tether has added Bitcoin regularly during profitable periods. The Q4 2025 purchase fits within that framework. The firm has not indicated any change to the allocation percentage or purchase frequency.

Market context and broader Bitcoin demand

Tether’s reserve expansion occurred after strong institutional interest in Bitcoin during much of 2025. Corporations and financial firms added Bitcoin to treasuries earlier in the year. These moves supported price gains before market conditions shifted.

Later in the year, crypto markets cooled, and Bitcoin prices slipped below $90,000. Despite the pullback, large holders continued accumulation. Analysts noted that reserve-focused buyers often act independently of short-term price trends.

Tether’s latest purchase reflects this approach. The company did not link the timing to market movements. Instead, it framed the acquisition as part of a consistent reserve policy rather than a reaction to price changes.