tether

Tether is quietly remaking itself. Long known as a tightly run stablecoin issuer, the company is now moving toward a much broader corporate identity - one that looks less like a crypto utility and more like a diversified global group spanning finance, energy, AI, and infrastructure.

Key takeaways
Tether is expanding its workforce by 50 percent, signaling a clear shift from a lean issuer to a diversified global group.Record profits and massive reserves are funding growth across AI, energy, education, and regulated finance.New products like USA₮ and partnerships around Bitcoin point to deeper integration with both traditional markets and crypto-native infrastructure.
The shift comes as profits surge and ambitions widen. After years of operating with a minimal headcount, Tether is preparing for its largest internal expansion to date, signaling that its strategy now goes well beyond maintaining the USDT peg.
From lean operator to global employer
Tether currently employs around 300 people and plans to hire another 150 staff over the next 18 months. That may sound modest by Big Tech standards, but for Tether it marks a structural break from the past. As recently as mid-2024, the company had just over 100 employees worldwide.
The new roles reveal where the company is heading. Alongside engineers, Tether is recruiting AI filmmakers in Italy, venture capital associates in the UAE, and regulatory specialists across emerging markets such as Ghana and Brazil. According to CEO Paolo Ardoino, the goal is to build what he describes as a “freedom tech stack” - an interconnected ecosystem touching money, communications, artificial intelligence, and energy.
To support this growth, Tether has tightened its internal structure. The recent appointment of Simon McWilliams as CFO centralizes financial and operational oversight in London, a move aimed at improving governance as the organization scales.
Profits, scale, and the balance sheet behind them
The hiring push is being funded almost entirely by profits. Tether reported more than $10 billion in net income for 2025, down from an exceptional $13 billion in 2024 but still placing it among the most profitable companies in the digital asset sector.
Its flagship stablecoin, USDT, has continued to expand. By early 2026, its market capitalization hovered between $185 billion and $187 billion, serving more than 534 million users globally.
Behind that scale sits an enormous reserve base. By late 2025, Tether’s total reserves reached roughly $193 billion, including about $122 billion in direct U.S. Treasury holdings.
That position makes Tether one of the largest private holders of U.S. government debt in the world.
At the same time, the company has leaned harder into hard assets. Gold holdings have climbed to around 140 metric tons, valued near $23 billion, while Bitcoin reserves have grown to roughly 96,184 BTC, reinforcing Tether’s long-term hedge against fiat risk.
A group structure takes shape
Tether’s evolution accelerated in April 2024, when it reorganized into four standalone divisions: Tether Data, Tether Finance, Tether Power, and Tether Edu. Together, they formalized the company’s move beyond stablecoins into AI infrastructure, Bitcoin mining and energy, and educational initiatives.
That broader scope became even clearer in January 2026 with the launch of USA₮, a federally regulated, dollar-backed stablecoin designed to operate under the U.S. GENIUS Act framework. The token is issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, with reserves custodied by Cantor Fitzgerald, marking a notable step into regulated U.S. finance.
In parallel, Tether has leaned deeper into Bitcoin. In April 2025, it partnered with SoftBank and Jack Mallers to launch Twenty One, a Bitcoin-native firm holding more than 42,000 BTC.
Investing far beyond crypto rails
Tether’s transformation is also visible in its investment book. Its venture arm now manages around 140 assets, all funded directly from company profits rather than external capital.
Recent headline investments include a $775 million stake in the video platform Rumble and a minority holding in Juventus F.C., where Tether now has a representative on the board. The portfolio also spans AI and mining infrastructure via Northern Data Group, agriculture through Adecoagro, and Web3 payments with Transak.
Taken together, the changes suggest Tether is no longer positioning itself as just the backbone of stablecoin liquidity. It is increasingly acting like a multi-vertical conglomerate, using its cash flow and balance sheet to shape large parts of the digital and financial landscape at once.
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Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has announced a strategic investment in LayerZero Labs, the team behind a leading cross-chain interoperability protocol. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
According to Tether’s official announcement, the investment aims to strengthen blockchain interoperability infrastructure and support the expansion of USDT into an omnichain framework.
USDT0: Bringing USDT Across Multiple Chains
Through Everdawn Labs, LayerZero’s interoperability technology has been used to develop USDT0, an omnichain representation of USDT. Unlike traditional bridged assets, USDT0 is designed as a fully composable on-chain representation of USDT, allowing the stablecoin to operate across multiple blockchains — including networks where native USDT has not been directly issued.
USDT0 is minted using LayerZero’s Omnichain Fungible Token (OFT) standard and is backed 1:1 by USDT. This structure is intended to maintain the stability and reserve model associated with Tether while improving cross-chain mobility.
Since its launch in early 2025, USDT0 has reportedly facilitated more than $70 billion in cross-chain transaction volume, reflecting growing demand for seamless liquidity movement between ecosystems.
Strengthening Real-Time Interoperability
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated that LayerZero has built interoperability technology that enables digital assets to move in real time across different transmission layers and distributed ledgers. He described this capability as foundational infrastructure for the broader financial industry.
Interoperability has become a critical focus in the blockchain sector, as liquidity fragmentation across chains remains one of the industry's structural challenges. By leveraging LayerZero’s protocol, Tether aims to enhance USDT’s accessibility and utility across decentralized finance (DeFi), centralized exchanges, and emerging blockchain ecosystems.
Potential Role in AI-Driven Finance
Tether’s team also noted that interoperability solutions could play a role in enabling autonomous AI agents to manage wallets and conduct stablecoin or digital asset transactions at scale. As AI systems increasingly integrate with blockchain-based financial rails, seamless cross-chain functionality may become a key component of automated economic activity.
Broader Expansion Strategy
The LayerZero investment is part of Tether’s broader strategic expansion. In recent months, the company has actively diversified its portfolio beyond stablecoin issuance.
Last week, Tether announced a strategic investment in t-0 Network, a licensed institutional payment platform built around USDT infrastructure. Additionally, the company recently invested $150 million in Gold.com, a direct-to-consumer precious metals trading platform.
These moves highlight Tether’s ongoing efforts to expand its presence across digital payments, interoperability infrastructure, and real-world asset markets.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Readers should conduct their own research before making any financial decisions.
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