Tether Partners with Bitqik to Boost Financial Literacy in Laos

Tether, the largest company in the digital asset industry, has partnered with Bitqik, a licensed digital asset exchange in Laos, to launch a financial literacy initiative focused on Bitcoin and stablecoins. The collaboration aims to educate over 10,000 people through seminars, roadshows, and online content throughout 2026.

Tether and Bitqik Collaborate to Promote Stablecoin Education in Laos
Learn more: https://t.co/Mbj5xto5ZL

— Tether (@tether) January 19, 2026

Bitqik operates as a local, licensed exchange offering brokerage and trading services for cryptocurrencies and digital assets. The company enables users to send and receive cryptocurrency while advocating for decentralized digital currencies as tools for global economic transformation.

The strategic initiative will develop online educational content for students and host quarterly events in major Laotian cities. Target locations include Vientiane, Pakse, Vang Vieng, and Luang Prabang. Events will focus on practical use cases for stablecoins and blockchain technology.

Financial inclusion is not only achieved by access but by having a clear understanding.

said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether.

He added that the collaboration reflects Tether’s commitment to grassroots education and empowering communities with knowledge and tools for meaningful digital economy participation.

Virasack Viravong, CEO of Bitqik, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. The Bitqik Academy will organize activities promoting blockchain technology, Bitcoin investment, and stablecoin usage, particularly USD₮, throughout 2026.

Tether Rumble Wallet Launch and Gold Payment Innovation

On January 7, 2026, Tether and Rumble launched Rumble Wallet, a self-custodial cryptocurrency wallet integrated directly into the video-sharing platform. The wallet allows creators and users to hold, transfer, and receive digital assets independently.

Tether and Rumble Launch Rumble Wallet, Bringing Self-Custodial Crypto Payments to Millions of Creators and Users
Learn more: https://t.co/LbZzrghOe8

— Tether (@tether) January 7, 2026

At launch, Rumble Wallet supports Tether USD (USDT), Tether Gold (XAUT), and Bitcoin (BTC). Users can tip creators natively in crypto and make borderless payments. Tether USAT will become available in the coming weeks.

Earlier that same day, Tether announced Scudo, a new unit of account for Tether Gold (XAU₮). Scudo defines one unit as one-thousandth of a troy ounce of gold.

The smaller denomination eliminates the need to work with complex decimal fractions when transacting in gold-backed digital assets. Pricing goods in fractions of an ounce typically requires unintuitive long decimal values.

The move addresses a key usability barrier that has prevented gold from functioning effectively as a medium of exchange. Scudo aims to restore gold as a practical payment method.

Gold prices reached historic highs in 2025 amid persistent inflation concerns and interest-rate uncertainty. Record central bank purchases and growing demand for safe-haven assets drove the surge.

Tether Expands Bitcoin Holdings to $8.4 Billion

On January 1, 2026, Tether acquired an estimated 9,850 Bitcoin worth approximately $876 million during the fourth quarter of 2025. The purchase follows the company’s established policy of allocating 15% of quarterly profits toward Bitcoin reserves.

USDT 发行商 Tether (泰达) 在 2025 年 4 季度应该是购买了 9,850 枚 BTC ($8.76 亿)：
2025/11/7 从 Bitfinex 提取 961 枚 BTC ($9718 万)、2026 年的第一天提取 8,888.8 枚 BTC ($7.78 亿) 到他们的 BTC 储备地址。

◎Tether 自 2023 年 5 月发布公告决定定期用公司利润的 15%… https://t.co/Y3dZBa33Br pic.twitter.com/Z3PiY5u9pE

— 余烬 (@EmberCN) January 1, 2026

On-chain analyst Ember tracked two significant withdrawals to Tether’s reserve wallet. The first transaction moved 961 BTC valued at $97.18 million from Bitfinex on November 7, 2025.

A second, larger transfer of 8,888.8 BTC worth $778 million occurred on January 1, 2026. Tether’s Bitcoin reserve address now holds 96,185 BTC, valued at $8.42 billion.

This positions the stablecoin giant as the operator of the fifth-largest Bitcoin wallet globally. The company’s average acquisition price stands at approximately $51,117 per coin.

Based on current market prices, Tether’s Bitcoin holdings represent an unrealized profit of $3.524 billion. The company initiated its Bitcoin reserve strategy in May 2023 and has consistently executed quarterly purchases since then.