黄金真正的“大庄家”：“稳定币老大”Tether

Core Insights - Tether, a major stablecoin issuer, has emerged as a significant buyer of gold, holding 116 tons valued at approximately $14 billion, making it the largest single holder of gold outside of central banks [1][3][5] - Tether's gold purchases have influenced gold prices, contributing to a 56% increase in gold prices in 2025, with its buying activity aligning closely with price surges [3][5] - The intertwining of cryptocurrency and traditional safe-haven assets like gold raises concerns about potential market volatility and the risk of speculative bubbles in gold [3][7] Group 1: Tether's Gold Holdings and Market Impact - As of September 30, Tether's gold holdings are comparable to the official reserves of countries like South Korea and Hungary, with its purchases accounting for 2% of global gold demand in Q3 [1][5] - Tether's gold buying activity has increased significantly, with its purchases representing 14% of central bank gold purchases in Q2 and 12% in Q3 [5][6] - The demand from Tether is expected to continue, with plans to purchase an additional 100 tons of gold by 2025, supported by its projected profits of nearly $15 billion this year [5][6] Group 2: Regulatory and Strategic Considerations - Tether's strategy involves using gold to back two different tokens, USDT and Tether Gold (XAUt), with a total of 116 tons of gold in reserves [6][10] - The recent GENIUS Act prohibits stablecoin issuers from using gold as reserve assets, yet Tether has increased its gold reserves, raising questions about its long-term strategy [6][10] - Tether's ambition to create a gold-backed cryptocurrency aims to provide a more accessible way for retail investors to hold gold, despite current regulatory challenges [10][11] Group 3: Speculative Risks and Market Dynamics - The relationship between gold and cryptocurrencies reflects concerns over currency devaluation, but the volatility of cryptocurrencies poses risks to the stability of gold as a safe-haven asset [7][11] - Jefferies predicts increased demand for gold from the stablecoin sector, but the unpredictable nature of the crypto market could lead to significant pressure on gold prices if demand shifts [7][11] - Tether's efforts to promote a gold-backed value exchange system face skepticism, particularly regarding the transparency and security of its gold reserves [11]