Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, outlined the company's ambitious strategy for 2025, emphasizing expectations to surpass last year's massive profit of $13.7 billion, driving global adoption of USDT and new efforts to become the largest Bitcoin mining company in the world.
In a recent Bankless podcast interview, Ardoino detailed how Tether continues to focus on expanding its financial infrastructure outside the United States while reinforcing the dominance of the U.S. dollar through holding a significant amount of U.S. Treasury bonds.
Facing U.S. Regulations
Ardoino confirmed that Tether intends for its flagship stablecoin, USDT, to fully comply with the proposed GENIUS Act, which has just been passed by the Senate and is awaiting House approval. This bill sets forth new regulatory standards for both domestic and foreign stablecoin issuers.
According to Ardoino, Tether is ready to pursue one of two feasible paths under the Act: to prove that its current operations are equivalent to U.S. standards or to launch a new stablecoin that fully complies with U.S. standards. He confirmed that the company is preparing to meet all standards regarding reserves, disclosures, and anti-money laundering as outlined in the new law.
Ardoino also added that Tether is currently one of the largest debt buyers in the United States globally, holding over $125 billion in U.S. Treasury bonds, primarily through Cantor Fitzgerald. He added that Tether also holds $6 billion in excess reserves and the total equity of the group has reached $176 billion.
Commodities, AI, and Bitcoin Mining
In addition to its core stablecoin business, Tether's expansion strategy includes entering the commodity trading sector. Ardoino stated that major commodity traders are looking to use USDT for cross-border payments due to the inefficiencies of traditional banking rails. The company is also investing in artificial intelligence, peer-to-peer infrastructure, and decentralized wallet technology.
Tether has invested over $5 billion in U.S.-based ventures and operates a portfolio of over 100 companies. This includes renewable energy, telecommunications infrastructure, and peer-to-peer AI platforms. The company's stablecoin network has reached 450 million users, adding 30 million wallets each quarter and has a strong presence in communities across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
Ardoino also revealed Tether's plans to become the largest Bitcoin mining company globally by the end of the year. Mining operations are being established in multiple jurisdictions, including South America and the United States. He stated that maintaining cybersecurity is in line with Tether's long-term Bitcoin holdings, which currently exceed 100,000 BTC.