What happened
Tether has completed a full independent financial audit by KPMG US for its USDT issuing entity Tether International, covering financials through December 31, 2025. The company says it will now undergo an annual comprehensive audit while continuing to publish quarterly attestation reports.
Why it matters for the market
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino described the balance sheet as straightforward and noted that changing attitudes from the US government helped push the company toward this transparency milestone.
The company also disclosed holdings of roughly 150 tons of gold and more than 100,000 bitcoins, and said it plans to set aside budget for AI-driven review of Bitcoin code and wallet security.
Ardoino added that Tether does not need external capital but remains cautious about selecting potential shareholders, emphasizing a mission-driven approach and commitment to transparency.
What traders should watch
For traders, the move toward independent full audits could ease long-standing concerns over USDT reserve transparency, potentially supporting stablecoin liquidity and broader risk appetite in crypto markets. While the annual audit cadence means the impact on intraday speculative trading is likely gradual, reduced de-pegging fears could help lower volatility around USDT-related pairs.
