tech
February 1, 2026
Why Tether's CEO is everywhere right now
For years, Tether's CEO avoided the United States, watching from offshore as regulators circled and prosecutors investigated. Those days are over.
TL;DR
- Tether launched USAT, a U.S.-regulated stablecoin, to comply with new federal rules and compete with Circle's USDC.
- Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino conducted a media blitz across multiple outlets to legitimize the company.
- The company claims to have 536 million users and emphasizes its role in financial inclusion for people in countries with weak currencies.
- Tether's flagship USDT has a market capitalization of $187 billion and is growing rapidly.
- Ardoino dismisses past criticisms of Tether's use in illicit activities, comparing it to the misuse of iPhones or Toyotas.
- Tether has frozen $3.5 billion in tokens, primarily from scams and hacks, and claims to have proactively identified $225 million in a 'pig-butchering scam'.
- The company holds $30 billion in excess reserves, managed by Cantor Fitzgerald, whose CEO, Howard Lutnick, is also the Commerce Secretary.
- Tether is expanding beyond stablecoins with Tether Gold, backed by physical gold, and Qvac, a decentralized AI platform.
- Tether has invested over $1 billion in AI robotics firm Neura and made other significant investments in tech, satellites, and agriculture.