Tether May Sell Bitcoin Due to Potential New US Regulations
Date: 2025-02-14 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: BUSINESS
The US Congress is currently debating two bills aimed at establishing rules for stablecoin issuers: the STABLE Act (Stablecoin Transparency and Accountability for a Better Ledger Economy Act), introduced in the House of Representatives, and the GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act), which is being considered in the Senate.
According to Bitinfocharts, as of February 13, a wallet associated with Tether contains 83.75 thousand BTC, which is equivalent to more than $8 billion. This amount coincides with the company's financial report.
The bills are currently under discussion, but their possible adoption could affect Tether's operations. They propose introducing issuer licensing, risk management requirements, and mandatory asset reserves in a 1:1 ratio.
According to JPMorgan's calculations, only 66% of the company's reserves comply with the STABLE Act, and 83% comply with the GENIUS Act. Analysts note that these figures have decreased compared to mid-2024, which is due to the growth of stablecoin issuance.
If at least one of the laws is adopted, Tether will have to reconsider its asset allocation, increasing the share of liquid instruments such as US government bonds. JPMorgan also recalled that the company is already facing regulatory pressure in Europe due to MiCA requirements, according to which 60% of reserves must be held in EU banks. This led to the delisting of USDT from some trading platforms.
Analysts warn that regulation in the US may be even tougher due to Tether's dominant position in the market. The introduction of strict transparency requirements and mandatory reserve audits could increase pressure on the company.
