USDT stablecoin issuer Tether announced that it will undergo its first comprehensive independent audit conducted by one of the Big Four accounting firms, aiming to address longstanding transparency concerns. This move comes as the company's gold reserves reach sovereign-level proportions, with gold holdings valued at $13.9 billion (approximately 104 tons) as of September 2025. Chief Executive Officer Paolo Ardoino acknowledged that the company's current "operational scale has positioned Tether's gold investment fund on par with sovereign gold holders." This audit follows years of scrutiny and a recent ratings downgrade by S&P Global, which cited the company's persistent issues with inadequate information disclosure.