Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said investors should hold Bitcoin and gold to avoid disaster during market downturns [1].
The advice comes as volatility persists in global financial markets, highlighting a shift toward assets that Ardoino said are hedges against traditional downside risk [1, 2].
Ardoino said these assets serve as safe havens when traditional investment strategies fail [1, 2]. This perspective aligns with Tether's own recent corporate movements. The company reported a net operating profit of $1.5 billion for the second quarter of 2026 [4].
To support its stability and reserve requirements, Tether has increased its gold holdings to over 146 tons [5]. The firm's financial health has been a point of scrutiny for regulators and critics in the past, a tension Ardoino has dismissed following recent third-party verification.
KPMG issued a clean audit opinion on the 2025 accounts for Tether International [3]. That audit showed reserves $6.8 billion above the company's liabilities [3].
By promoting Bitcoin and gold, Ardoino is positioning the digital asset and the precious metal as complementary tools for wealth preservation [1]. The strategy emphasizes a move away from reliance on single-currency systems, or traditional equity markets, during periods of instability [2].
“"avoid disaster" by holding Bitcoin and gold”
Tether's push toward Bitcoin and gold reflects a broader trend of 'hard asset' accumulation among major crypto-stablecoin issuers. By leveraging a clean audit from KPMG and significant quarterly profits, the company is attempting to validate its role as a systemic pillar in the digital economy rather than just a liquidity provider. This strategy signals a belief that traditional fiat-based financial systems remain prone to instability.
