TLDR:
- S&P cut Tether to lowest stability tier over 24% risk asset exposure including 5.6% in Bitcoin holdings
- Rating agency cited transparency gaps around custodians and lack of segregated reserve structure
- CEO Paolo Ardoino rejected downgrade as broken legacy finance propaganda against alternative models
- USDT maintains dollar peg and trading volumes despite increased scrutiny from traditional institutions
S&P Global has slashed Tether’s stability rating to its weakest tier. The downgrade centers on mounting reserve risks and persistent transparency issues.
The ratings agency flagged several red flags in its assessment. Tether now faces increased scrutiny over its ability to maintain the dollar peg during severe market stress.
Reserve Risk Climbs as Bitcoin Holdings Grow
The stablecoin issuer’s exposure to volatile assets has jumped sharply in recent months. Risk assets now account for 24% of Tether’s reserves, up from 17% previously.
Bitcoin alone represents roughly 5.6% of total backing. The portfolio also includes gold, corporate bonds, and loans.
S&P JUST HIT TETHER WITH A “WEAK” RATING
S&P Global downgraded Tether’s stability score to its lowest tier, citing rising reserve risk and limited transparency.
Their key factors behind the cut:
$USDT’s exposure to “risk assets” like $BTC, gold, corporate bonds, and loans… pic.twitter.com/Ra2Xq4JKPm
— CryptosRus (@CryptosR_Us) November 28, 2025
S&P expressed concern about these holdings during market turbulence.
The ratings firm believes concentrated risk could threaten peg stability. Traditional stablecoins typically hold safer assets like Treasury bills. Tether’s approach marks a departure from that conservative model.
The company lacks a fully segregated reserve structure according to the report.
Details about custodians remain unclear to outside observers. Information on underlying counterparties is similarly limited. These gaps make independent verification difficult for traders and institutions.
Market participants now have fresh data to weigh in their risk assessments. The downgrade does not signal immediate danger. It does highlight structural questions that persist around the world’s largest stablecoin.
Tether CEO Rejects Traditional Rating Framework
Paolo Ardoino dismissed the downgrade in a pointed social media response.
The Tether chief called his company overcapitalized with clean reserves. He accused legacy rating agencies of maintaining broken financial standards. Ardoino suggested traditional models favor established institutions over newcomers.
The executive pointed to past rating failures during financial crises. Investment grade companies collapsed despite positive assessments from major agencies. Regulators questioned the independence of those rating processes. Tether sees itself as proof that alternative models can work.
to S&P regarding your Tether rating:
We wear your loathing with pride.
The classical rating models built for legacy financial institutions, historically led private and institutional investors to invest their wealth into companies that despite being attributed investment grade…
— Paolo Ardoino
Ardoino framed the criticism as fear from traditional finance players. He claimed the company remains highly profitable despite operating outside normal structures. The CEO wore the weak rating as a badge of honor. His defiant tone signals no immediate changes to reserve strategy.
Traders continue to use USDT across major exchanges without disruption. The token maintains its peg near one dollar. Daily trading volumes show no signs of panic selling. Still, the S&P assessment adds another layer to ongoing debates about stablecoin regulation and transparency standards.
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