Gate Daily Report (August 14): KPMG Audits Tether and Issues an “Unqualified Opinion”; Trump-Affiliated WLFI Postpones Plans to Issue Resort Tokens

Bitcoin (BTC) remains weak, trading at around $63,520 as of Aug. 14. USDT stablecoin issuer Tether completed its first comprehensive independent financial audit, with KPMG issuing an unqualified opinion. Trump family crypto project WLFI has postponed its Maldives resort token issuance plan.

Macro Events & Crypto Highlights

1. According to The Block, stablecoin issuer Tether said Thursday that it had completed its first full independent audit of its financial statements, with KPMG US issuing an “unqualified opinion” on the 2025 accounts of Tether International, S.A. de C.V. Tether said an unqualified opinion, also known as a “clean” opinion, means that auditors did not attach any qualifications, exceptions, or warnings during the audit, representing the most favorable opinion an independent auditor can issue.

A KPMG US spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have issued an unqualified opinion on the financial statements of Tether International, S.A. de C.V. for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, in accordance with the standards of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). Due to client confidentiality obligations, we have no further comment.” Tether announced in March that it had hired one of the Big Four accounting firms to conduct its first financial audit, but did not disclose the firm’s name.

2. According to Bloomberg, the digital token project tied to a Trump-branded resort has postponed its issuance, marking the latest obstacle encountered by World Liberty Financial (WLFI) since it began advancing its real-world asset (RWA) tokenization plan. World Liberty Financial and its partners have delayed the sale of digital tokens linked to a Trump-branded resort in the Maldives. The tokens were originally scheduled to launch this spring, and purchasers would have received partial revenue rights from the loan project used to fund the resort.

People familiar with the matter said the token issuance plan was forced to be postponed because the war with Iran has affected travel activity in the Middle East and surrounding regions. The people requested anonymity because the delay has not been made public. The project was originally viewed as an important attempt by World Liberty Financial to promote real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, aiming to make traditional real estate revenue rights available to investors through blockchain technology.

News Updates

1. The probability of the Fed keeping interest rates unchanged in September is 65.2%

2. Tether completes its first comprehensive independent financial audit, with KPMG issuing an unqualified opinion

3. Gemini Q2 financial results: net loss of $107.7 million, total revenue of $45.5 million, up 37% year over year

4. Trump family crypto project WLFI postpones Maldives resort token issuance plan

5. Analysis: Investors are betting that Anthropic’s revenue will reach hundreds of billions of dollars by year-end, with its valuation potentially hitting $3 trillion

6. Billionaire Bill Ackman’s Pershing to launch its first venture capital fund, betting on pre-IPO companies

7. The first meeting of the US CFTC’s Innovation Advisory Committee will focus on crypto asset, AI, and prediction market regulation

8. AI data infrastructure company Databricks completes $5 billion strategic financing round, led by Coatue

9. AMD plans to raise up to $5 billion through a bond offering

Market Trends

1. Latest Bitcoin news: $BTC remains weak, currently trading at around $63,520, with $48.68 million in liquidations over the past 24 hours, primarily involving long positions;

2. All four major US stock indexes rose on Aug. 13, with the S&P 500 hitting a record high, driven by gains in Sandisk and other technology heavyweights. In addition, US Treasury yields fell as more evidence showed that inflation was easing, strengthening investors’ expectations that the Fed would not raise rates next month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 69.72 points, or 0.13%, at 53,839.99; the S&P 500 rose 50.49 points, or 0.65%, to close at 7,798.99, surpassing the record closing high set last Friday; and the Nasdaq rose 214.54 points, or 0.81%, to close at 26,803.03.

(Source: Bitcoin Counterflow)

3. In the BTC/USDT liquidation map, based on the current price of 63,481 USDT, if the price falls to around $61,800, cumulative long liquidation amounts will exceed $6.3 million; if it rises to around $65,040, cumulative short liquidation amounts will exceed $6.4 million. Short-side liquidation amounts are not far from those on the long side. Reasonably control leverage ratios to avoid triggering large-scale liquidations amid market volatility.

(Source: Coinglass)

4. Over the past 24 hours, BTC spot inflows were $1.22 billion, outflows were $1.27 billion, and net outflows were $50 million.

(Source: Coinglass)

5. Over the past 24 hours, $SNDK, $SNXX, $AKE, $XAU, $MU , and other contracts led in net outflows, presenting trading opportunities.

Featured Views from X KOLs

Phyrex Ni (@Phyrex_Ni): “It’s been a long time since I took a comprehensive look at Bitcoin data. I reviewed it again today, and although I feel the data is an absolute mess, there is still a glimmer of hope. At least it is clear that high-net-worth investors are continuing to buy, while traditional investors in spot ETFs still have a fairly strong intention to buy the dip at $60,000. Long-term holders may indeed be changing positions due to the impact of cold wallets. Overall, I still have fairly strong confidence in BTC.”

“Of course, the key is still to watch US macroeconomic politics and the economy. Right now, the most critical issue is the war between the US and Iran. Today I saw someone say that they get annoyed whenever they see the words ‘Strait of Hormuz’ on the timeline. I’m also frustrated writing about it, but there’s no way around it. Whenever we talk about the US or inflation, we have to talk about the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz has become a thorn in the side of the US.”

“Seeing the US fiscal deficit today also gives me a sense that continuing the war is becoming increasingly painful for the US. Even if it can suppress Iran militarily, a theocratic state does not need sophisticated weapons. Drones and small boats alone can make ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz fearful, let alone inexpensive sea mines. It feels like the US is in a difficult position, although Iran charging a 7% fee is a bit too shameless.”

“At a time like this, all year should unite to oppose Iran, rather than let Iran name any price it wants. If Iran dares to ask for 7% today, it may demand 20% tomorrow. I truly cannot understand how the global economy can be held hostage by Iran.”

Today’s Outlook

1. China’s July-end M2 money supply (year over year), previous reading: 8.0%

2. China’s foreign exchange reserves at the end of July (billions of dollars), previous reading: 3416.00

3. France’s July Consumer Price Index (monthly rate), final reading, previous reading: 0.6%

4. Eurozone June seasonally adjusted trade balance (billions of euros), previous reading: -5.0

5. Eurozone Q2 revised GDP (quarterly rate), previous reading: 0.4%

6. Eurozone Q2 revised GDP (annual rate), previous reading: 1.0%

7. US July retail sales (monthly rate), previous reading: 0.2%

8. Preliminary University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for August, previous reading: 55.2

9. Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Michele Bullock to attend a hearing.