The recent surge in stablecoin accumulation by large wallets over the past three weeks has sparked significant interest and speculation within the cryptocurrency market. As highlighted by Santiment, an analytic firm, wallets holding at least $5 million in crypto collectively adding 5.09% of the combined supplies of major stablecoins. The accumulation of the stablecoins including USDT, USDC, BUSD, DAI, TUSD, and USDP, indicates the rapidly evolving dynamics of the crypto landscape.
One notable player in this space is Tether, which has recently disclosed a substantial increase in its Bitcoin holdings during the first quarter of 2024. Tether’s Bitcoin holdings have surpassed the $5 billion threshold for the first time, mirroring Bitcoin’s record high trading value of around $69,500 this year. This strategic move by Tether aligns with its investment strategy of diversifying its reserves from U.S. government debt to cryptocurrency assets.
While Tether has not officially disclosed its Bitcoin addresses, it was revealed last year that one of its Bitcoin addresses has been consistently acquiring Bitcoin since September 2022. The recent acquisition of 8,888 Bitcoin throughout the first quarter has propelled Tether from the 11th to the 7th largest holder of Bitcoin in the market.
In addition to direct Bitcoin investments, Tether has also expanded its operations into Bitcoin mining and energy production sectors. The company’s recent announcement of venturing into the AI space underscores its commitment to innovation and technological advancement within the cryptocurrency industry.
Tether’s primary operation remains the management of the USDT stablecoin, which boasts $5.4 billion in excess reserves as of December 31, 2023, according to its latest Q4 attestation report. With a total USDT supply exceeding 109 billion, Tether continues to maintain its position as the largest issuer of stablecoins in the market.