Tether and Bitcoin mining strategy: Shift and its consequences

​Just a few years ago, Tether was associated almost exclusively with stablecoins, providing liquidity to the crypto market and positioning itself as an “anchor of stability.” But over time, the company began to move beyond that role. Today, Tether openly presents itself not only as the issuer of USDT, but also as a serious player in the Bitcoin mining sector.

How Tether is entering the Bitcoin mining industry

In 2023, Tether took a major step toward business diversification by launching its own Bitcoin mining initiative. The starting point was Uruguay — a country with one of the highest shares of renewable energy use in Latin America. This choice was no coincidence: Tether has consistently followed a sustainable development strategy, and “green” mining became a natural extension of that vision.

Working with local partners, the company began building infrastructure for Bitcoin mining. Modern rigs were seamlessly integrated into local power grids, enabling the use of predominantly wind and hydropower. This helped reduce the environmental footprint of the operations while ensuring stable and efficient performance.

Another key element of Tether’s mining strategy was connecting its own hash rate to the OCEAN pool — a decentralized platform developed by veteran Bitcoin contributor Luke Dashjr, one of the original developers of Bitcoin Core and a staunch advocate of network decentralization.

OCEAN is built on the open-source DATUM protocol and allows miners to construct their own block templates — without relying on centralized intermediaries. This makes the pool not just a technical solution, but a meaningful step toward enhancing Bitcoin’s resistance to censorship.

This approach is fully in line with Tether’s philosophy, as articulated by the company’s CEO Paolo Ardoino:

 “As a company committed to financial freedom and open access, we view support for decentralization in Bitcoin mining as a fundamental requirement for the long-term integrity of the network.”

From a practical standpoint, Tether plans to deploy DATUM gateways across all of its mining sites, including those located in Africa. This is particularly important in regions with limited internet bandwidth, where traditional solutions often fall short.

Loading...

The tweet was deleted by the author.

But we saved everything 🙂.

Interestingly, despite Luke Dashjr’s firm stance against Ordinals and BRC-20 tokens — which he refers to as “spam” on the Bitcoin network — OCEAN gives miners the freedom to decide whether to include such transactions in their blocks. This flexibility reflects the project’s broader commitment to decentralization and user autonomy.

Tether’s support for mining, with a strong focus on independence and resilience, has moved far beyond individual initiatives. In 2024, the company launched a new division — Tether Power — dedicated to developing its own energy and mining infrastructure. This unit isn’t just about mining Bitcoin; its mission is to build a risk-resistant ecosystem capable of adapting to the global challenges facing the crypto industry.

Investing in Bitcoin miner Bitdeer

Tether’s technological ambitions continue to evolve. One of the latest moves includes investments in cutting-edge solutions like the SEALMINER A3 chips by Bitdeer Technologies. These chips offer low energy consumption and high efficiency — key factors in boosting the profitability and sustainability of mining operations.

Additionally, by participating in low-latency mining pools, Tether improves its competitiveness on the global stage, reducing operational costs and increasing mining effectiveness.

As of today, the company holds a 24.2% stake in Bitdeer. The share purchases took place between April 2 and April 14, 2025, during which Tether acquired roughly 4 million BTDR shares at an average price of $8.05 each. This move clearly signals the company’s intention to steadily increase its presence within the mining sector.

Loading...

The tweet was deleted by the author.

But we saved everything 🙂.

Prior to that, the USDT issuer had already invested $150 million in Bitdeer back in June 2024. Much like then, these latest investments come amid a broader downturn in the mining sector — a time when Tether appears determined to double down and expand its influence.

Tether’s financial performance

In 2024, Tether reported outstanding financial results, confirming the effectiveness of its current strategic course. The company announced a record-breaking profit of $13 billion. This success was largely driven by asset diversification, including its growing investments in Bitcoin mining.

These results also underscore Tether’s strong financial resilience. The company continues to build up its reserves while expanding its influence in the broader crypto market.

One of the clearest indicators of Tether’s success is the continued growth in USDT circulation and the expansion of its reserves throughout 2024 — a sign of sustained demand for its products in the global economy.

Conclusion: How mining supports Tether’s broader strategy

Tether has evolved into a multi-faceted company. Beyond the USDT project, it is actively developing its Bitcoin mining operations, placing strong emphasis on sustainability and the use of renewable energy sources. Through its partnership with the OCEAN mining pool and strategic investments in Bitdeer Technologies, Tether is strengthening its presence in the mining sector and the wider crypto technology space.

The company’s record financial performance over the past year confirms that its strategy is working — delivering consistent and positive results.

For Tether, Bitcoin mining is not just a tool for asset diversification — it is a key pillar of a broader, forward-looking vision for the cryptocurrency market. By investing in innovation and environmentally conscious technologies, Tether continues to position itself as a leading player in an increasingly competitive industry.