Tether’s $1B Mint Spurs Speculation as Bitcoin Bounces Back After Powell–Trump Clash

A fresh wave of speculation has hit the crypto market following a hefty stablecoin issuance by Tether, which quietly minted $1 billion worth of USDT on the Tron network earlier today.

Not long after, blockchain data revealed that $500 million of that batch was funneled directly to the HTX exchange—closely associated with Tron’s founder, Justin Sun.

This large-scale mint is just the latest in a series of USDT issuances that have intensified since late January. Though the specifics around each mint remain opaque, estimates suggest Tether has created roughly $10 billion in new USDT over the past few months—an influx often viewed as a precursor to heightened market activity, especially in Bitcoin and other top-tier assets.

The timing is catching attention. Bitcoin, which had been struggling under the weight of hawkish monetary policy signals, suddenly broke out of its slump today. Within hours, the leading cryptocurrency jumped 2.6%, climbing from just over $85,000 to above $87,400—a welcome turnaround after days of steady decline.

The earlier dip was triggered by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s announcement that interest rates would remain unchanged due to stubborn inflation indicators. That move sparked backlash from former President Donald Trump, who not only criticized the decision but also called for Powell’s removal from the Fed.

Despite the political noise and rate-related jitters, Bitcoin has managed to rebound around 5% since the announcement, signaling renewed confidence from traders who may be eyeing the influx of stablecoin liquidity as fuel for the next market push.

Alexander Stefanov