Tether Bitcoin sell-off rumors are false: Tether did not sell BTC but transferred coins to a separate initiative (Twenty One Capital/XXI); the firm continues allocating profits into Bitcoin, gold and land, and its net BTC holdings remained stable when transfers are accounted for.
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Tether did not sell Bitcoin; transfers were internal
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Tether moved BTC to Twenty One Capital (XXI) in June–July, not to market sales.
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Tether holds over 100,000 BTC per BitcoinTreasuries.NET; attestations referenced in BDO reports require transaction context.
Meta description: Tether Bitcoin sell-off rumors debunked — Tether did not sell BTC; transfers to XXI explain Q2 figures. Read the full breakdown and data-driven takeaways.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino says the firm “didn’t sell any Bitcoin” and is still allocating profits into BTC, gold and land.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has denied recent rumors that the stablecoin issuer is offloading its Bitcoin holdings to buy gold.
Did Tether sell its Bitcoin holdings?
Did Tether sell its Bitcoin holdings?
Tether Bitcoin sell-off rumors are incorrect: the company publicly stated it “didn’t sell any Bitcoin” and moved certain BTC to a related initiative (Twenty One Capital/XXI), which explains the lower Q2 attestation tally without indicating a market sale.
Why did observers think Tether sold BTC?
Observers compared BDO attestation snapshots for Q1 and Q2 2025 and noted a fall from 92,650 BTC to 83,274 BTC. That raw comparison, however, omitted transfers to Twenty One Capital (XXI) totaling 19,800 BTC across June–July, which are internal reallocations rather than sell orders.

Tether CEO denies Bitcoin sell-off rumors. Source: Paolo Ardoino
How much BTC did Tether move to XXI and why does it matter?
In early June, Tether moved over 37,000 BTC across multiple transactions to support the launch and liquidity of Twenty One Capital (XXI), a Bitcoin-native financial platform. Reported transfers of 14,000 BTC in June and 5,800 BTC in July (19,800 BTC noted by Samson Mow) account for the apparent reduction in custodial attestations.
The distinction between a custodial transfer and a sale matters because transfers to an affiliated vehicle leave economic exposure intact when consolidated; Samson Mow and Paolo Ardoino both clarified the activity as moves, not disposals.

Tether holds over 100,000 BTC. Source: BitcoinTreasuries.NET
What do attestations and treasury data show?
Attestations from BDO provide point-in-time custodial snapshots; reading them without accounting for transfers produces misleading conclusions. Consolidated data sources such as BitcoinTreasuries.NET list Tether holdings at over 100,521 BTC (~$11.17 billion), indicating net exposure remains material.
How does this affect market perception?
Short-term market headlines spiked on the Q2 attestation difference. After clarifications — including statements by Paolo Ardoino and the transfer breakdown from Samson Mow — the narrative shifted from a sell-off to a structural reallocation in support of XXI.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Paolo Ardoino confirm Tether still buys Bitcoin?
Paolo Ardoino said the firm “didn’t sell any Bitcoin” and reaffirmed ongoing profit allocations into Bitcoin, gold, and land, indicating continued strategic BTC exposure.
How should I read custody attestations versus net exposure?
Attestations are point-in-time snapshots. To estimate net exposure, account for transfers to affiliated initiatives and consult consolidated treasury data alongside attestations.
Key Takeaways
- No sale concluded: Tether says Bitcoin transfers were internal moves, not dispositions.
- Transfers explain attestation gaps: Movement to Twenty One Capital (XXI) accounts for the apparent Q2 decrease.
- Net holdings remain large: Consolidated trackers list Tether above 100,000 BTC; context matters when reading attestations.
Conclusion
Direct evidence and executive statements indicate that the Tether Bitcoin sell-off narrative stemmed from snapshot comparisons without transfer context. Tether BTC holdings remain a major market factor, and transparency through attestations plus on-chain tracing is essential for accurate assessment. Follow updates from official attestations and consolidated treasury data for confirmation.