Tether Mints 3B USDT In 24 Hours, Hits $160 Billion Supply

Key Highlights:

• Tether minted $3 billion in USDT, pushing its supply above $160 billion
• $1 billion USDT was sent directly to Binance amid Bitcoin’s price surge
• The mint coincides with the U.S. House passing new crypto regulations

Tether has once again made headlines. On 16 July, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer minted $3 billion USDT on the Ethereum blockchain. This move boosted Tether’s total supply past $160 billion, a new all-time high.

The announcement came just as Bitcoin hit a fresh record above $120,000. This sparked a general surge in crypto trading activity.

The timing of this massive mint is also interesting. It landed the same day the U.S. House of Representatives passed three landmark crypto bills.

The $3 Billion Mint of Tether

Tether initially minted a staggering $2 billion on the Ethereum network. Soon after this, however, the stablecoin giant minted an additional $1 billion USDT. This pushed the total to $3 billion USDT, minted in under 24 hours.

CEO Paolo Ardoino confirmed the mint through a post on X. He described it as an “inventory replenish”, which means that the USDT isn’t in circulation yet. However, it is ready for future issuance and blockchain swaps.

Out of the initial $2 Billion minted, $1 billion was immediately sent to Binance. This indicated that Tether was preparing for a spike in trading activity. It might be linked to altcoins riding Bitcoin’s bullish wave.

It is also worth mentioning that over the past month alone, Tether has minted $4.4 billion in USDT combined. This is the ultimate show of just how much demand there is for stablecoins during bull markets. Also, the next few weeks are bound to be interesting.

Tether Supply Breakdown Across Blockchains

Tether’s USDT doesn’t live on just one blockchain. Instead, it’s spread across several major networks. On the Ethereum network, the company has over $74 billion in supply. Also, it has around $81 billion on the TRON network, alongside $2 billion on Solana.

In addition, Tether has around $530 million on the TON network, with $480 million on Avalanche. So far, Ethereum and TRON are the leading platforms.

However, considering this growth rate, Tether is expanding and diversifying its presence. This diversification has been important for supporting defi protocols and centralized exchanges, regardless of the chain.

Regulatory Winds Are Changing

Tether’s mint came at a significant time in US crypto-related politics. This week, the U.S. House has passed three major crypto bills.

These include the GENIUS Act, which establishes federal oversight for stablecoin issuers, and the Clarity Act. This defines the roles of the SEC and CFTC in crypto regulation.

The Anti-CBDC Act, which blocks the Fed from issuing digital currencies to individuals, has also been passed. The GENIUS Act is essential to Tether out of these three bills. This is because it could bring more transparency to the stablecoin space, which critics have long demanded.

While no Democrats supported the bill, its passage shows a rise in bipartisan interest in regulating crypto. Tether hasn’t yet voiced any opposition to the bill. However, as of Q2, the company reported $127 Billion in exposure to U.S. Treasurys.

What Comes Next?

These new bills are now coming across Washington, and trading volumes are heating up. This means that Tether’s next moves will be more closely watched. More blockchain integrations may be coming, especially on networks that support fast and cheap transactions.

At the same time, the company must remain transparent about its reserves. Public trust in USDT depends on believing that every token is fully backed and redeemable. If Tether can balance expansion with compliance, it could maintain its position as the backbone of crypto liquidity.