Tether, the company behind the USDT stablecoin, has further solidified its position in the cryptocurrency market by acquiring an additional 8,888 Bitcoin in the fourth quarter of 2025. This latest purchase brings Tether's total Bitcoin holdings to over 96,000, valued at approximately $8.4 billion based on current market prices. According to on-chain analyst Ember, this substantial amount makes Tether the owner of the fifth-largest Bitcoin address.

The acquisition is part of Tether's ongoing strategy to diversify its reserves with digital assets, demonstrating the company's confidence in Bitcoin as a long-term store of value. CEO Paolo Ardoino confirmed the purchase, emphasizing the company's belief in Bitcoin's stability and potential.

Ember estimates that Tether's total Bitcoin purchases for Q4 2025 may have been as high as 9,850 BTC, amounting to a substantial investment of $876 million. On-chain data revealed movements indicating that 961 Bitcoin were withdrawn from Bitfinex in November, followed by the transfer of 8,888 Bitcoin to Tether's reserve address, highlighting active engagement in the market.

Tether had previously announced in May 2023 its intention to allocate up to 15% of its realized operating profits towards Bitcoin acquisitions. This initiative aims to strengthen and diversify the reserves backing its USDT stablecoin, enhancing the overall stability and security of its offerings. Tether also invests in U.S. Treasury Bills and gold as part of its reserve strategy. In fact, Tether is the largest private purchaser of U.S. Government Treasury Bills.

Tether's systematic accumulation of Bitcoin demonstrates institutional confidence in cryptocurrency as a treasury reserve asset. The company's moves come amid increasing institutional interest in Bitcoin throughout 2025, with major companies and financial entities integrating the crypto asset into their investment and treasury management strategies. Despite recent market fluctuations that saw Bitcoin dip below $90,000, Tether continues to assert its belief in Bitcoin's future.

Tether is the largest cryptocurrency in terms of trading volume, holding 70% of the market share among stablecoins. As of August 1, 2024, Tether reported having $118.4 billion in reserves, including $5.3 billion in excess reserves. In the second quarter of 2024, the company achieved a profit of $1.3 billion, contributing to a total profit of $5.2 billion for the first half of the year.

Tether's consistent purchase of 8,888 BTC each quarter in 2025 is notable. The number 8,888 is culturally significant in Asian markets, symbolizing prosperity.