Tether, already holding 8.7 billion dollars in physical gold, has invested over 200 million dollars in mining and gold royalty companies, marking an ambitious diversification beyond USDT.
Paolo Ardoino compares gold to the ‘bitcoin of nature,’ positioning the yellow metal as a strategic and philosophical extension of bitcoin in the company’s vision.
Despite Tether’s enthusiasm, the mining sector remains skeptical, finding their strategy unclear, but the initiative illustrates the growing trend of bridging gold and digital assets.
Paolo Ardoino: ‘Gold is the bitcoin of nature’
The CEO of Tether, Paolo Ardoino, embraces this fascination. For him, gold is a natural extension of bitcoin.
Many say that bitcoin is digital gold. I think in bitcoin terms: gold is our natural source.
Paolo Ardoino during a speech in May
This perspective brings together two assets often compared but rarely associated in concrete strategies: the ancient safe-haven yellow metal and bitcoin, born in 2009 and becoming the most coveted digital asset in the markets.
Already Engaged Investments
Tether’s appetite extends beyond just words. The group already holds 8.7 billion dollars in gold bars stored in a vault in Zurich, serving as collateral for its stablecoin. In June, Tether Investments injected 105 million dollars into the Canadian company Elemental Altus, specialized in mining royalties before adding an additional 100 million in August when it merged with EMX.
Discussions have also taken place with other players, such as Terranova Resources, an investment vehicle based in the British Virgin Islands. Even though they did not materialize, they confirm the group’s desire to expand its exposure to the gold sector.
A Strategy Still Vague but Ambitious
Meanwhile, Tether has made inroads into commodity trade financing, with a short-term lending book already totaling in the billions. This diversification reflects a desire to turn its immense profits into tangible and strategic assets.
However, some observers remain skeptical. A commodities trading executive did not mince words: ‘It’s the weirdest company I’ve dealt with.’
Link Between Crypto and Gold: A Future Bet?
Tether’s bet is part of a broader trend. Other players are seeking to bridge gold and digital assets. The company Blue Gold, listed on Nasdaq, for example, is considering issuing tokens backed by its future production in Ghana.
For investors, the equation is clear: while gold remains a proven safe haven and bitcoin an ultra-performing yet volatile asset, the convergence of the two could give rise to a new class of hybrid assets. Tether, at the forefront, hopes to embody this bridge between tradition and revolution.
