On June 18, Tether minted $1 billion worth of USDT on the Ethereum blockchain, according to on-chain data from Arkham Intelligence.
Historically, such minting events have coincided with short‑term surges in Bitcoin (BTC). Notably, on May 21, when Tether issued $2 billion USDT, the next day BTC broke its previous all‑time high, climbing past $111,000.
While minting alone doesn’t guarantee immediate impact, the available on-chain data reveals that major spikes in USDT supply often translate into large inflows to exchanges.
How will the mint affect Bitcoin price
Research suggests that Bitcoin often reacts positively in the short term following large Tether mints, particularly when on-chain alert accounts like Whale Alert publicly flag the transactions.
An article by Dr. Aman Saggu in Blockchain Research Lab found that Bitcoin tends to rise 0.4–0.8% within 5 to 30 minutes after a USDT mint. The response is asymmetric: mints push prices up, while burns have little to no effect.
The study, which reviewed minting and burning across Tether blockchains from 2014 to 2021, attributes the price movement to investor psychology, specifically FOMO during bullish sentiment phases.
Crucially, the effect is only observed once a mint is announced by Whale Alert or a similar service, suggesting the move is driven more by visibility and sentiment than by actual liquidity impact.
Bitcoin price analysis
Of course, Tether mints are just one of several factors influencing Bitcoin’s short-term price action. Market sentiment remains fragile, with geopolitical tensions in the Middle East (BTC price even dipping to $102,800 following President Trump’s June 17 warning to Iran) and macroeconomic uncertainty ahead of today’s full Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.
Traders are watching closely for any signals on the Fed’s rate outlook. A dovish tone could offer relief to crypto markets, while a hawkish stance may weigh on prices. With multiple narratives in play, short-term volatility is expected to remain elevated.
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