Back
Tether buys 14 tons of gold in Q2 2026, lifting holdings to $18.8 billion

Tether buys 14 tons of gold in Q2 2026, lifting holdings to $18.8 billion

The USDT issuer raised its gold reserves to a record 146 tons in the second quarter even as bullion prices weakened, while profit fell and the company pursued gold leasing to generate income.

USDT

Fact Check
Tether's official Q2 2026 release (Tether.io, July 31, 2026) and CEO Paolo Ardoino's post confirm gold holdings expanded by 14 tons to more than 146 tons. Finimize independently confirms both the 14 metric-ton addition and the $18.8 billion physical gold valuation. The official release cites tonnage (146+ tons) rather than the dollar figure, but the $18.8B gold value is corroborated by Finimize and is consistent with mid-2026 gold prices. All core elements of the claim are verified by the primary source and independent corroboration.
Summary

Tether bought 14 metric tons of gold in the three months through the end of June, lifting its total holdings to a record 146 tons worth about $18.8 billion and reinforcing its position as the largest known non-bank, non-sovereign institutional investor in gold. The purchase accelerated from 6 tons in the first quarter, even as gold prices came under pressure in Q2. Tether’s latest quarterly reserve attestation also showed nearly $500 million of new USDT issued during the quarter. Separately, the company reported about $1.5 billion in net operating profit, down from $4.9 billion a year earlier. Alongside accumulating physical bullion, Tether is also exploring ways to monetize its holdings through gold leasing via Gold.com, a U.S. precious metals dealer in which it holds an equity stake.

Terms & Concepts
  • stablecoin: A crypto token designed to maintain a fixed value, typically by being backed by reserve assets.
  • USDT: Tether’s dollar-linked stablecoin, issued in exchange for U.S. dollars.
  • gold leasing: A practice in which gold holdings are lent out in return for income or other financial consideration.