Tether’s strategic decision to invest a significant portion of its operating profits into Bitcoin is creating a surge of optimism for an upward trend in the cryptocurrency market.
Tether International Limited, the manager of the preeminent stablecoin, recently divulged an investment strategy designed to bolster its reserve portfolio. CoinShares, a leading digital asset investment firm, responded to this news with their interpretation of Tether’s announcement and its potential impact on the cryptocurrency landscape.
According to Tether’s announcement, the company will initiate a policy of consistently allocating up to 15% of its net realized operating profits towards purchasing Bitcoin (BTC). In CoinShares’ analysis, they anticipate that Tether’s strategy will be a positive influence on the price of Bitcoin. They note that Tether aims to increase Bitcoin holdings in its reserves to bolster and diversify, but within the boundaries of its Shareholder Capital Cushion.
As per Tether’s Q1 2023 Assurance Report, it already held approximately $1.5 billion in BTC. CoinShares underlines that Tether’s recent announcement of profits of $1.48 billion for Q1 2023 indicates a robust financial position for the stablecoin operator. Their commitment to dedicate about 15% of its total monthly profits—equivalent to $75 million—towards acquiring additional Bitcoin underscores this strength.
Tether’s adherence to the mantra “Not your keys, not your bitcoin”, as they take possession of the private keys related to all of their Bitcoin holdings, is a significant note that CoinShares emphasizes in their response.
Tether’s new Bitcoin acquisition strategy was clarified in their announcement as focusing exclusively on using realized profits, with unrealized capital gains generated by price increases being disregarded. This means Tether will only consider tangible gains from its operations. CoinShares interprets this as a prudent and conservative investment approach that focuses on tangible returns from stablecoin operations.
In response to the potential rivalry from Binance’s own stablecoin, BUSD, CoinShares reflects on the evolution of market shares. Prior to 2020, Tether was the dominant player in Bitcoin volumes, but the landscape has since seen growing competition. CoinShares suggests that Tether’s new investment approach may be part of a broader strategy to capitalize on the regulatory discrepancies between it and competitors like BUSD.
Tether’s decision to allocate a portion of its net realized operating profits towards Bitcoin, according to CoinShares, signifies the company’s faith in the cryptocurrency market and its commitment to supporting the broader ecosystem. CoinShares points out that significant, isolated purchases, such as those planned by Tether, do influence the price of Bitcoin.
With a view to the long-term potential of Bitcoin, Tether envisions a transformative impact on how business is conducted and life is lived. CoinShares’ data, as revealed in their Fund Flows report, supports this positive outlook. While the effect of Tether’s strategy on Bitcoin’s price remains to be seen, CoinShares’ analysis indicates a potentially measurable positive impact.
In conclusion, CoinShares sees Tether’s decision as an indicator of the stablecoin operator’s confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term potential. The implications of Tether’s strategy, combined with their commitment to maintaining the stability of their stablecoin while exploring opportunities in the evolving digital asset landscape, could contribute to a more resilient and diversified cryptocurrency ecosystem.
