Tether, world’s biggest stablecoin, cuts its commercial paper holdings to zero

Published

2 years ago

October 13, 2022

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Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin, has slashed back its commercial paper holdings to zero, replacing them with U.S. Treasury bills instead, according to a blog post. The popular U.S.-dollar-pegged cryptocurrency said the move is part of tether’s “ongoing efforts to increase transparency” and back its tokens with “the most secure reserves in the market” — in the ultimate hope of ensuring investor protection.

There are now about 68.4 billion tether tokens in circulation, according to data from CoinMarketCap, up from 2 billion three years ago. The cryptocurrency has a market capitalization of $68.4 billion.

“Tether has led the industry in transparency releasing attestations every three months, constantly reviewing the make up of its reserves,” continued the statement.

Commercial paper is a form of short-term, unsecured debt issued by companies, and it is considered to be less reliable than Treasury bills. In October, Tether’s Chief Technology Officer, Paolo Ardoino, tweeted that 58.1% of its assets were in T-bills, up from 43.5% in June. It is unclear where that percentage currently stands, but Ardoino did write in a post on Thursday that Tether was able to pay $7 billion, or 10% of its reserves, in 48 hours.

“Ask your bank or other stablecoins if they can do that, in same time frame of course,” he wrote.

Thursday’s statement went on to note that zeroing out the balance of its commercial paper holdings was also meant to be a step toward “greater transparency and trust, not only for tether but for the entire stablecoin industry.”

The stablecoin corner of the crypto market has certainly had trust issues in the last year.

Last year, tether had to pay a multimillion dollar fine following a legal battle with the New York attorney general’s office over concerns related to the viability of its reserves, and in May, the collapse of terraUSD (UST), which was once one of the most popular stablecoin projects, cost investors tens of billions of dollars.

The fall of UST resulted in a falling domino effect across the wider crypto ecosystem. Part of the fallout involved tether temporarily losing its dollar peg and dipping as low as 95 cents.

But well before UST’s dramatic implosion, Tether — the company behind the stablecoin of the same name — was facing serious regulatory backlash over its reserves.

Most stablecoins are backed by fiat reserves, the idea being that they have enough collateral in case users decide to withdraw their funds. (UST was among a new breed of “algorithmic” stablecoins that attempt to base their dollar peg on code.)

Previously, Tether claimed all its tokens were backed one-to-one by dollars stored in a bank. However, after a settlement with the New York attorney general, the company revealed it relied on a range of other assets, including commercial paper, to support its token.

In April, Ardoino told CNBC that the company was well equipped to deal with mass redemptions, but New York Attorney General Letitia James’ office previously alleged that Tether sometimes held no reserves to back its cryptocurrency’s dollar peg. It said that, from mid-2017, the company had no access to banking and misled clients about liquidity issues.

“Tether’s claims that its virtual currency was fully backed by U.S. dollars at all times was a lie,” she added. Tether said in a statement on its website that contrary to speculation, “after two and half years there was no finding that Tether ever issued tethers without backing, or to manipulate crypto prices.”

Critics have also raised fears that tether tokens were used to manipulate bitcoin prices, a claim Tether has repeatedly denied.

While not yet large enough to cause disruption in U.S. money markets, tether could eventually reach a size where its owning of U.S. Treasuries becomes “really scary,” Carol Alexander, a professor of finance at Sussex University, said.

“Suppose you go down the line and, instead of $80 billion, we’ve got $200 billion, and most of that is in liquid U.S. government securities,” she said. “Then a crash in tether would have a substantial impact on U.S. money markets and would just tip the whole world into recession.”

Environment

Ørsted’s largest solar farm in the world is now online in Texas

Published

14 hours ago

November 23, 2024

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Ørsted's largest solar farm in the world is now online in Texas

The Mockingbird Solar Center, Ørsted’s largest solar project globally, is now online, next to protected prairie donated by the renewable energy giant.

This massive 468-megawatt (MW) solar farm is set to power 80,000 homes and businesses, providing a major boost to the Texas grid.

But the launch of Mockingbird Solar isn’t just about clean energy – it’s also about restoring precious ecosystems. Ørsted has donated 953 acres of the Smiley-Woodfin Native Prairie Grassland, which sits next to the solar center, to The Nature Conservancy. The donated land is now the Smiley Meadow Preserve, a protected area for tallgrass prairie that’s home to more than 400 species of grasses and wildflowers.

Tallgrass prairies are some of the rarest ecosystems in the US, with less than 1% of Texas’ original tallgrass prairies still in existence. Tallgrass prairie does a lot of heavy lifting for the environment, including storing carbon, preventing floods, and providing crucial habitats for pollinators.

“Native prairies are the rarest landscapes left in Texas – so much so that many people have never seen one,” said David Bezanson, land protection strategy program director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. He added that preserving Smiley Meadow will not only conserve one of the best prairie remnants left but also help restore other prairie habitats and boost regional biodiversity.

The Mockingbird Solar Center, a half-billion-dollar project, is part of Ørsted’s $20 billion push to expand renewable energy production across the US. Beyond generating electricity, it will inject $75 million into local property taxes, benefiting schools and other public services. The project also created over 550 construction jobs and will continue to be supported by operations staff moving forward.

Ørsted worked with US companies, including First Solar, for solar panels and partnered with local businesses like Drake Construction and Pfifer Farms for construction materials. It also gave more than $50,000 to local volunteer fire departments in Roxton and Brookston.

With Mockingbird Solar now up and running, Ørsted has more than 6 gigawatts of onshore wind, solar, and battery storage projects either in operation or being built across the US.

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Environment

Cramer names oil and natural gas stocks set to do well under Trump

Published

15 hours ago

November 22, 2024

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Cramer names oil and natural gas stocks set to do well under Trump

CNBC’s Jim Cramer on Friday said companies related to natural gas and oil will thrive under President-elect Donald Trump’s administration and a majority Republican Congress.

“We’re hearing about all sorts of Trump trades right now, and many of these things have made insane moves in less than three weeks, to the point where, actually, they’re feeling precarious to me,” he said. “If you want a sustainable Trump trade, I say bet on the natural gas ecosystem. This is an industry that already had a lot going for it, it just needed some cooperation from the federal government, which it is about to get.”

President Joe Biden’s administration is largely opposed to fossil fuels, Cramer said, and the federal government has worked to block pipelines and paused new liquified gas export authorizations. This dynamic, coupled with a weaker global economy, caused the sector to underperform for much of the year, he suggested. But Trump has shown more favor to the industry, and Cramer pointed out that he tapped prominent oil executive Chris Wright to lead the Department of Energy.

Cramer recommended several stocks in the sector, including energy producers EQT and Coterra. The former is focused on natural gas and recently acquired peer Equitrans, raising the combined company’s valuation to an estimated $35 billion, Cramer noted. He added that Coterra is a good long-term holding and called the company “one of the shrewdest operators in the industry.”

He highlighted pipeline companies, including Energy Transfer and Kinder Morgan, and said he was especially bullish on Enbridge. Enbridge says it transports about 20% of all natural gas consumed in the U.S., and Cramer claimed the Canadian outfit has “strategically located assets.” He also named Cheniere and Sempra, saying the former is the “best play” for liquified natural gas exports.

“Seasonally, this is a good time for the commodity,” he said, pointing out that natural gas itself has climbed since the election. “But I also think there’s some optimism about the future of the industry driving this move.”

Jim Cramer’s Guide to Investing

Environment

Jeep launches Wagoneer S EV lease prices starting at just $599 per month

Published

15 hours ago

November 22, 2024

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Jeep launches Wagoneer S EV lease prices starting at just 9 per month

Jeep’s first global luxury electric SUV will arrive at US dealerships any day. Despite its $72,000 price tag, lease prices for the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV start at just $599 per month.

2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV lease prices

After unveiling its first global electric SUV, Jeep’s CEO said the Wagoneer S “marks a new chapter” in its storied history.

Jeep claims the Wagoneer S packs “exhilarating performance.” With 600 hp and 617 lb-ft of torque, the big-body SUV can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Its 100 kWh battery pack also gives it a driving range of over 300 miles.

The electric SUV is unmistakably still a Jeep, but it did get several upgrades to distinguish it as an EV. The grille is now enclosed without the need to cool a massive engine, giving it a sporty, more modern look.

Jeep revamped its design with a new illuminated seven-slot grille with ambient cast lightning. It also fine-tuned its profile, adding flush door handles, a rear wing, and integrated fins for better airflow.

The first Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition models get exclusive dark accent design elements like 20″ Gloss Black Wheels.

Inside, the electric SUV is loaded with the latest tech and connectivity, including a best-in-class 45″ of usable screen space. The setup includes a 12.3″ center screen and an exclusive 10.25″ interactive front passenger screen.

Jeep already announced that the 2024 Wagoneer S EV will start at $71,995, but now the company has revealed lease prices for the first time.

According to Jeep, the 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition can be leased for $599 per month for 36 months (10,000 miles per year). The deal includes $4,999 due at signing and a $7,500 EV incentive. However, you may want to act fast, as Jeep’s offer is only good until December 2, 2024.

Jeep Wagoneer S vs Tesla Model Y	Starting Price	Range	Lease Price
Jeep Wagoneer S Launch Edition	$71,995	+300 miles	$599/mo
Tesla Model Y RWD	$44,990	320 miles	$299/mo
Tesla Model Y AWD	$47,990	308 miles	$399/mo
Tesla Model Y AWD Performance	$51,490	279 miles	$599/mo

In comparison, Tesla Model Y RWD lease prices start at $299 for 36 months with $2,999 down (10,000 miles). The Performance AWD model starts at $599 per month. In an end-of-year promo, Tesla also offers 3 months of free Supercharging and Full Self-Driving.

Ready to drive off in your new electric SUV? We can help you get started. You can use our links below to view offers on the Jeep Wagoneer S and Tesla Model Y at a dealer near you.

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