Tether's USDT Downgraded by S&P Citing Bitcoin Risks

📅
⏱️ 2 min read
✍️ By Otto Bergmanr
Cryptocurrency News
Key Points:
  • S&P Global Ratings downgrades Tether USDT over bitcoin reserves.
  • Raised concerns of USDT stability.
  • Potential impact on crypto markets.

S&P Global Ratings downgraded Tether’s USDT stablecoin to a 'weak' rating, citing the increasing proportion of bitcoin in its reserves amid declining bitcoin prices, affecting its perceived stability.

The downgrade raises questions about USDT’s dollar peg integrity and impacts market confidence, potentially influencing cryptocurrency liquidity dynamics and trading strategies, despite Tether's leadership dismissing the rating’s implications.

S&P Global Ratings downgraded Tether’s USDT to “weak,” saying increased bitcoin reserves raise risk amid price volatility. Tether’s reserves caused concerns about the stablecoin’s dollar peg reliability. The downgrade involved Tether’s increased bitcoin reliance. CTO Paolo Ardoino publicly rejected it, critiquing the traditional financial establishment as threatened by crypto’s rise on Twitter.

The downgrade affects institutions using USDT, highlighting volatility in reserves. Some industry participants express concern while others maintain confidence in Tether’s resilience. Implications for market confidence include potential liquidity challenges for DeFi protocols dependent on USDT. No immediate changes in Total Value Locked or staking flows reported in major data sources.

Historical rating changes for stablecoins often relate to reserve transparency. Bitcoin’s price shifts could impact Tether’s stability, as its rising share affects reserve valuation. Anticipated outcomes focus on risks for assets tied to USDT, like BTC and DeFi tokens. Monitoring future regulatory responses will be crucial, despite current silence from bodies like the SEC or CFTC.

S&P represents a broken, threatened traditional financial system that is trying to drag crypto down with it. — Paolo Ardoino, CTO, Tether