May 2024
Tether nets US$4.52 bln Q1 profit from investments
Stablecoin leader Tether’s Q1 earnings soar to $4.52 billion, buoyed by US Treasury and Bitcoin.
April 2024
Tether Launches on TON Blockchain with USDT, XAUT
Stablecoin issuer Tether has expanded to The Open Network with its USDT and gold-backed XAUT tokens, aiming to enhance liquidity.
Tether expands into new sectors amid regulatory watch
Tether diversifies into data, finance, power, and education sectors, aiming for innovation and empowerment.
Tether becomes seventh largest Bitcoin holder
Stablecoin leader Tether acquires 8,889 units of Bitcoin.
February 2024
Tether, Solana’s Yakovenko back Oobit with US$25 mln funding
Industry giants Tether and Yakovenko invest in Oobit’s $25M funding round.
USDT issuer Tether pockets US$2.85 bln in profits in Q4 2023
Tether reports a record US$2.85 billion profit last quarter as its USDT soars towards US$100 billion market cap
January 2024
USDT rises as money laundering tool in SEA, UN says
A UN report reveals USDT’s growing role in money laundering and underground banking in Southeast Asia
November 2023
Tether offers US$610 mln debt financing facility to German Bitcoin miner Northern Data
Tether extends US$610 million loan to boost Northern Data’s AI and Bitcoin mining operations.
Circle to cease USDC minting for retail customers
Circle said the account closures do not apply to businesses or institutional Circle Mint accounts.
October 2023
Tether freezes 32 addresses related to terrorism in Israel and Ukraine
Tether says it froze US$873,000 in USDT linked to terror activities in Israel and Ukraine. CEO Ardoino stresses crypto’s traceability.
Tether appoints Paolo Ardoino as new CEO
Ardoino takes Tether’s helm after serving as the USDT stablecoin issuer’s chief technical officer since 2017.
August 2023
Tether stops USDT stablecoin mints on three blockchains
Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, announced on Thursday that it will discontinue support for its flagship stablecoin, on three blockchains, Kusama, Bitcoin Cash SLP (Simple Ledger Protocol) and Omni Layer.
Huobi seeks update of crypto holdings across data platforms, amid market talk of insolvency woes
Huobi has contacted multiple data platforms to update its cryptocurrency holdings, following market talk that the it might face an insolvency issue.
Huobi sees US$105 million outflow amid insolvency rumors
Rumors of arrest and insolvency plague the Huobi cryptocurrency exchange, which enjoys close ties to the Tron founder Justin Sun. How will Huobi respond?
July 2023
Tether says USDT excess reserves reached US$3.3 billion in Q2
Tether Holdings Limited, the issuer of stablecoin USDT, released its consolidated reserves report for the second quarter of 2023 on Monday, showing consolidated assets of at least US$86.5 billion against total liabilities of US$83.2 billion. Tether reported an increase of approximately US$850 million in its excess reserves, totaling around US$3.3 billion as of June 30, the close of the quarter.
Chinese police uncover $54 million USDT money laundering scheme
Police in China’s Shanxi Province made 21 arrests in relation to an alleged USDT money laundering scheme amounting to over US$54 million.
USDT’s goal is to be the dollar, not beat it, says Tether CTO
Scrutiny on the stablecoin’s reserves has intensified since USDT’s latest depegging scare. Paolo Ardoino, CTO of Tether and Bitfinex, delves into the composition of USDT reserves, explaining how the firm ensures dollar redemptions, irrespective of secondary market prices.
June 2023
The bane of crypto today is quantity over quality: Opinion
The market now has 26,000 different cryptocurrencies and the total number of coins in circulation approaches infinity. How do those tokenomics make any sense?
May 2023
Tether stablecoin issuer taps Uruguay for Bitcoin mining using renewable energy
Tether, the issuer of the world’s most traded stablecoin, will invest in power generation and Bitcoin mining in Uruguay to tap the country’s renewable energy resources, the company said on Tuesday.
Big buys fail to lift NFT markets as regulatory uncertainty weighs heavy on crypto
Investors remain cautious as U.S. debt talks continue despite slowing inflation and large NFT purchases.
Is Tether unmoored — or just dandy?
Top blockchain and crypto news: Fighting words over USDT erupt on Twitter. Litecoin surges amid memecoin fever. Chinese city bids for blockchain business.
Tether more than doubles net profit in Q1, says holds most assets in U.S. Treasury bills
The issuer of the world’s most traded stablecoin raked in US$1.48 billion in net profit for the first quarter of this year, more than double the previous quarter, according to the company’s reserves report on Wednesday.
December 2022
Tether launches offshore yuan-pegged stablecoin on Tron
Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin provider, will include the CNHT stablecoin on Justin Sun’s Tron network.
October 2022
Tether says it slashed all commercial paper, replaced with US Treasury bills
Tether, issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, said in a blog post it has cut its commercial paper holdings to zero and replaced them with U.S. Treasury bills. See related article: Are stablecoins like Tether ready for regulatory scrutiny? Fast facts See related article: SEC fines former Tether auditor over accounting malpractice
Tether says commercial paper holdings now less than US$50 mln
Tether Holdings Limited, the issuer behind the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, reduced its holdings of commercial paper to less than US$50 million as of Sept. 30, according to a tweet by Tether Chief Technology Officer Paulo Ardoino. See related article: SEC fines Tether’s former auditor US$1 mln over accounting malpractice Fast facts In the tweet, Ardoino also […]
September 2022
Are stablecoins like Tether ready for regulatory scrutiny?
The Terra UST disaster is spurring regulators to converge on global stablecoin standards, writes Michael Shing of XREX. But major issuers still fall short.
SEC fines Tether’s former auditor US$1 mln over accounting malpractice
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced Monday it filed and settled a US$1 million fine against Friedman LLP, Tether’s former auditing firm, over “serious violations of the federal securities laws.” See related article: What is the right approach to regulating stablecoins? Fast facts See related article: Should Tether’s shrinking cash reserves be cause for […]
Binance stablecoin conversion controversial, but what does it mean for users?
Binance generated controversy when it told customers it would convert their holdings in three stablecoins to its own stablecoin. Some analysts say the concerns are overblown, others disagree.
Binance halts USDC support; Inflation hits crypto
Binance puts it’s own stablecoin, BUSD, at the forefront. Meanwhile, inflation casts its own shadow across the crypto.
August 2022
Tether pushes back at WSJ doubts on its reserves
In response to the Wall Street Journal alleging that Tether’s USDT stablecoin is not adequately backed by reserves, Tether called the report a series of “unsubstantiated conclusions” that tried to “discredit Tether’s work on transparent and honest communications to the public.” See related article: Should Tether’s shrinking cash reserves be cause for investor worry? Fast […]
Tether says didn’t freeze sanctioned Tornado Cash addresses so as to not interfere in investigations
Tether Holdings Ltd.,the issuer of USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin by market capitalisation, Wednesday said freezing the sanctioned addresses might interfere with ongoing investigations despite no clear instruction to do so by law enforcement. See related article: Bad actors in North Korea, Russia send record-high funds to crypto mixers Fast facts The U.S. Treasury Department’s […]
Tether to release monthly USDT reserves report with new auditor BDO Italia
Tether Holdings Limited, the issuer of USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin by market capitalization, has roped in accounting firm BDO Italia for its regular reports of USDT reserves. See related article: Tether says USDT reserves have no Chinese commercial paper Fast facts Tether said in a statement shared with Forkast that it began working with […]
WazirX issues warning; Stablecoin giants back Merge
WazirX users head for exits amid a dispute between Binance. Meanwhile, Circle and Tether announce support for the new ETH P-O-S.
USDC, Tether announce support for Ethereum proof-of-stake
Two of the largest stablecoin issuers — Tether and USDC — announced Tuesday that they will support Ethereum’s proof-of-stake (PoS) chain, as Ethereum’s “Merge” looms and crypto miners are banding together against the abandonment of mining. See related article: Prominent Chinese ETH miner plans proof-of-work fork amid The Merge Fast facts See related article: Ethereum […]
KuCoin ETFs to allow NFT purchase with USDT instead of ETH
The new product will help over 20 million KuCoin users to access blue chip non-fungible tokens (NFTs) through direct purchases with USDT, instead of ETH, the cryptocurrency exchange said. See related article: KuCoin dismisses rumors, eyes India for growth: report Fast facts KuCoin is partnering with Fracton Protocol and will initially list five NFT exchange-traded […]
Tether will support ETH 2.0 amid speculations of Merge delay
Bitfinex and Tether’s chief technology officer Paolo Ardoino said on Sunday that Tether plans to support ETH 2.0, amid widespread speculations that the Merge may get delayed yet again. See related article: Ethereum one step closer to Eth2 with Ropsten testnet merger Fast facts While the Merge has been delayed multiple times, developers said it […]
July 2022
Tether says USDT reserves have no Chinese commercial paper
Tether, the issuer of USDT, the world’s most traded stablecoin, said it doesn’t hold Chinese commercial paper in its reserves and it plans to reduce its commercial paper holdings overall. See related article: Tether slashes commercial paper, shows more reserves than liabilities Fast facts In a statement published on Wednesday, Tether said it “holds no […]
June 2022
What is the right approach to regulating stablecoins?
Terra UST’s crash and burn is prompting calls for regulations. But lawmakers shouldn’t paint all stablecoins with the same brush, writes Alan Chiu.
Tether to offer new sterling-pegged stablecoin, GBPT
Tether said it will launch a new stablecoin pegged to the British pound sterling in early July, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, USDT, announced Wednesday. See related article: Tether market cap shrinks below US$70B, lowest since October 2021 Fast facts Tether’s announcement comes a week after Circle, the operator of the world’s second-largest […]
Tether market cap shrinks below US$70B, lowest since October 2021
The market capitalization of Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin, has dipped to an eight-month low of US$69.4 billion, according to CoinGecko data. See related article: Tether, USDT market cap has dropped by US$10B since UST collapse Fast facts Tether’s market cap has fallen almost US$3 billion since June 14 as investors pull out in a […]
May 2022
Tether USDT shaken by stablecoin market storm
Top blockchain and crypto news: Billions cut ties with Tether. Are Terra’s UST troubles just beginning? China’s miners stay one step ahead.
Terra cofounder Do Kwon’s taxing questions; China’s underground mining
Terra co-founder responds to office closure allegations. Meanwhile, China re-emerges as a crypto mining hub despite 2021 ban.
Tether, USDT market cap has dropped by US$10B since UST collapse
Tether, the operator of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has seen US$10 billion of its market capitalization shaved off since TerraUSD’s (UST) collapse. See related article: Nearly half of Tether reserves are now in US Treasury bills Fast facts USDT’s market capitalization was at US$73.35 billion at the time of publishing, following an all-time high […]
Nearly half of Tether reserves are now in US Treasury bills
Commercial paper backing Tether (USDT), the world’s largest stablecoin, has decreased by 17% from US$24.2 billion in Q4 2021 to US$20.1 billion in Q1 2022, according to Tether’s latest attestation report. See related article: Tether slashes commercial paper, shows more reserves than liabilities Fast facts Commercial paper in Tether reserves has been reduced by an […]
Terra halts network; Do Kwon security concerns
Terra shuts down its networks indefinitely. Meanwhile, TerraLabs founder Do Kwon’s whereabouts are in question as his wife requests police protection.
Tether stabilizes after burning 3 billion tokens amid redemptions
The world’s largest stablecoin destroyed a total of 3 billion USDT tokens in an account known as Tether Treasury through two separate burns on Thursday, according to data from blockchain tracker Whale Alert. See related article: Terra shuts down indefinitely after coming back online; LUNA, UST still on life support Fast facts “Burn burn burn,” […]
April 2022
Stablecoins gain amid stormy crypto market in Q1: CoinGecko
The stablecoin market cap grew by US$23 billion in an otherwise lackluster market for crypto assets, according to a quarterly report by CoinGecko. See related article: Bitcoin follows blue chips south amid market turmoil Fast facts Stablecoins were among the biggest beneficiaries from investor “derisking” into stablecoins, CoinGecko said in its report, with USDT remaining […]
How Bitcoin could become the collateral layer for the digital asset economy
Bitcoin is now a reserve asset for Terra’s UST. What does this portend for the $186 billion stablecoins market?
Why are stablecoins overwhelmingly backed by the US dollar?
Stablecoins are taking the world by storm and it’s the US dollar that outweighs any other fiat-backed cryptocurrency. What are the reasons for the greenback’s dominance?
March 2022
Should Tether’s shrinking cash reserves be cause for investor worry?
USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin, is now backed by much smaller cash reserves than before. XREX analyzes the risks.
Korean exchanges block Russians; Crypto’s role in conflict
As the war in Ukraine enters it’s second week, we take a look at how cyptocurrencies and digital assets can play a role in a conflict.
Russian ruble plunges; Ukraine DAO aids civilians
Sanctions on Russia have prompted a resurgence in the Crypto market as the Russian ruble takes a nosedive. And as the attack on Ukraine continues, a decentralized autonomous organization is created to support Ukrainian civilians who have joined military efforts.
USDT-RUB volume outpaces Bitcoin pair as Russia sanctions pile
The trading volume of the USDT-RUB pair spiked to a 10-month high and outpaced the ruble’s Bitcoin pair as international sanctions against Russia shake local financial stability. See related article: US asks crypto exchanges to comply with Russian sanctions: report Fast facts The daily trading volume of the BTC-RUB pair surged to over 3 billion […]
February 2022
Tether slashes commercial paper, shows more reserves than liabilities
Tether cut its commercial paper holdings by 21% last quarter according to the stablecoin operator’s latest quarterly assurance opinion released Monday. See related article: Tether unveils reserves and backing for its USDT stablecoin in new report Fast facts Auditor MHA Cayman completed an attestation, finding Tether’s reserves held for its digital assets exceed the amount […]
Circle’s growth outpaces Tether as it doubles valuation
Circle’s USDC, the world’s second-largest stablecoin, is gunning for the title of the world’s top stablecoin as it closes in on Tether’s market capitalization after doubling its valuation to US$9 billion in a revised merger deal. See related article: Stablecoin issuer Circle to go public in US$4.5B SPAC deal Fast facts USDC’s market cap has […]
Will the growing regulatory heat on stablecoins stifle innovation?
As stablecoins face pressure to adopt traditional safeguards, the industry’s efforts to self-regulate should not be overlooked, writes Charlie Martin of Gro.
December 2021
Myanmar’s resistance routes funding through Tether
Top blockchain and crypto news: Can stablecoins bankroll democracy? Nike swooshes into the metaverse. Animoca and Bored Apes venture deeper into the gaming jungle.
Myanmar’s shadow government uses Tether in its fight against military rule
The National Unity Government recognizes Tether as an official currency, defying the cryptocurrency ban imposed last year.
Cryptocurrency prices take another hit in downward spiral
Macroeconomic factors and a spate of bad news override bullish outlook in crypto market as the year lurches toward its end.
November 2021
Metaverse picks up momentum; Binance tweet gets yellow card
Metaverse picks up momentum, on the other hand Binance tweet gets yellow card
Tether pledges to work with policymakers on stablecoin transparency
Tether, issuer of the world’s most popular stablecoin USDT, has responded in multiple tweets saying it will work with policymakers, after the U.S. Senate Banking Committee earlier this week sent letters to several stablecoin issuers — including Tether — to inquire about their operational features. Fast facts In the tweets, Tether said it appreciates the interest from […]
US Senate Banking Committee sends inquiries to stablecoin issuers
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee has sent letters to several stablecoin issuers to inquire about their operational features. Fast facts In a Monday tweet, Ron Hammond, director of government relations at the Blockchain Association, said the stablecoin issuers include Coinbase, Gemini, Circle, Paxos, TrustToken, Centre, Binance U.S. and Tether. “This is likely a sign of […]
Circle contributes to $4.3M Series A funding round for yen-backed stablecoin
As Circle expands into Asia as part of a global expansion plan, what does the investment in a yen-back stablecoin mean for the market?
Solana hits new ATH, briefly overtakes Tether as 4th-largest cryptocurrency
The price of Solana (SOL), the native cryptocurrency of the high-performance proof-of-stake Solana blockchain, hit a new all-time high US$245.69 this morning Asia time and briefly overtook Tether as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market value, according to CoinGecko data. Fast facts Solana’s price surge comes ahead of the inaugural Breakpoint conference organized by the Solana Foundation, which will […]
October 2021
Tether fined $41M for misleading claims it was fully backed by fiat
Tether, the issuer of the world’s most popular stablecoin USDT, has been fined US$41 million by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) over “untrue or misleading” claims that its USDT stablecoin was fully backed by corresponding fiat currencies. Fast facts The CFTC said in a Friday statement that from at least June 1, 2016 to […]
Tether fires back; Easy Crypto closes Series A funding round
Tether fires back while Easy Crypto closes Series A funding round
Tether lashes out at report that claims it is not 100% backed
Tether is facing another round of scrutiny as the world’s number one stablecoin responds to a damning Bloomberg report published yesterday that claimed — among other things — that Tether is not fully backed as the company claims and is using its reserves to make crypto-backed loans. Fast facts In the article, reporter Zeke Faux […]
What are stablecoins, and why are some governments so afraid of them?
Stablecoins combine the portability of crypto with the price stability of fiat currencies. But are they all that stable?
August 2021
NFT trade takes off. Tether’s bankable reserves. Tencent targeted in China.
Top blockchain and crypto news: NFT wave buoys OpenSea. Are dollars and sense a lifeline for Tether? Tencent gets a target on its back.
July 2021
Hong Kong raid uncovers suspected US$155M crypto laundering scheme
Tether stablecoins linked to funds funneled to banks in Singapore and elsewhere amid worldwide cryptocurrency crime increase.
Stablecoins promise much, but can they deliver?
As issuer Circle prepares to list and China sounds the alarm over speculation, the mood among regulators is mixed, despite stablecoins’ clear appeal to investors.
June 2021
Criticisms of Tether’s reserves are unfounded, says Bitfinex CTO
After Tether’s legal settlement with New York, USDT’s growth is exploding—dispelling concerns over Tether’s reserves, says Bitfinex CTO Paolo Ardoino.