Private Money Rises: Tether, Bitcoin, And The Genius Act

Bitcoin and Crypto Market Risks - Bitcoin market is subject to rapid changes and uncertainty, with investments potentially susceptible to fraud and manipulation due to a lack of regulation [1] - Bitcoin investments carry unique risks, including price volatility, lack of liquidity, and theft [1] - ARK strongly encourages investors to consult with a financial professional before investing in Bitcoin or any other digital asset [2] Tether (USDT) and Stablecoins - USDT was created in 2014 to facilitate the movement of digital dollars across exchanges at the same speed and low friction as Bitcoin [11] - USDT's initial version ran on the Bitcoin layer (Omnilayer) before Ethereum became prominent [15] - Tether's USDT market cap grew from $4-6 billion at the beginning of 2020 to over $40 billion by the end of 2020, reaching $163 billion currently [18][19] - USDT's utility expanded from pure crypto trading to real-world applications, especially in emerging markets where it serves as a digital dollar alternative [20] - Tether holds more than 130 billion US dollars in US Treasuries, over 90 tons of gold, and more than 100,000 Bitcoin as part of its reserves [45][46] - Tether's reserves are more than 103% collateralized, with $2 billion more in liquid assets than the total outstanding USDT tokens [47] - Tether has a gold-backed stablecoin called Tether Gold (XAUt), valued at 800 million US dollars [52] Regulatory and Transparency - Tether releases quarterly attestations by BDO, a top-five auditing firm, to independently confirm its reserves [55] - Tether is incorporated in El Salvador and regulated under its regulatory regime for stablecoins [56] - Tether works with over 250 law enforcement agencies across more than 50 countries [57] - Tether guarantees the value of its stable currency, with every USDT redeemable for 1 US dollar minus redemption fees of 10 basis points [57] Future Plans and Market Dynamics - Tether is exploring new products for developed markets, including the US, to bring new utility to users beyond the existing stablecoin model [59] - The Genius Act has opened the door for banks and institutions to launch stablecoins, increasing competition in the market [58] - Commodity traders are increasingly using USDT to close commodity trading deals due to its widespread adoption and stickiness in emerging markets [59] - Stablecoins can eliminate inefficiencies in the transaction process, reducing both costs and time, which are particularly beneficial in emerging markets [59]