TETHer (USDT) & Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) (BTC) – A new study has surfaced this morning putting TETHer in the negative spotlight once again. Last December, TETHer was subPOEnaed by the U.S Commodity Futures Trading Commission to provide proof that the digital currency was in fact back by a reserve of U.S. dollars. Bitfinex was also subPOEnaed due to it losing banking relationships, but continued to remain operational.

CEO of Bitfinex, JL van der Velde, spoke out against the accusations last year in an emailed statement and said:

“Bitfinex nor TETHer is, or has ever, engaged in any sort of market or price manipulation. TETHer issuances cannot be used to prop up the price of Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) or any other coin/token on Bitfinex.”

Around this time, Bitcoin (available on Coinbase) (BTC) reached its record high of $20,000 a coin, and these events are what prompted John M. Griffin and Amin Shams from the University of Texas Austin Department of Finance to investiGate TETHer’s movement.