Gold giant becomes major buyer of U.S. debt

Group 1 - Tether has become the largest private holder of gold and U.S. government debt, positioning itself similarly to major financial institutions [1][2][3] - The company has accumulated approximately 80 to 116 metric tons of gold, with a notable addition of 27 tons in Q4 2025 due to rising gold prices amid geopolitical and inflation concerns [3] - Tether's direct U.S. Treasury holdings exceed $122 billion, with total exposure surpassing $141 billion when including reverse repurchase agreements, making it one of the largest non-sovereign holders of U.S. debt globally [4] Group 2 - The growth of Tether's USDT stablecoin has driven significant demand for U.S. Treasuries, with nearly $50 billion in new tokens issued in 2025, raising total circulation above $186 billion [6] - The model for minting USDT involves depositing dollars that are primarily invested in short-term U.S. Treasuries, generating yield for Tether while maintaining liquidity for redemptions [7] - This strategy has established Tether as a major buyer of Treasury bills, particularly at the short end of the yield curve [7]