Tether looks to restart operations within the US, focusing on institutional partnerships, following its 2021 departure due to regulatory constraints.
Tether Returns to U.S. Market with Institutional Focus
Tether, the issuer of the world's largest stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar, has announced its plans to re-enter the U.S. market, targeting institutional clients. This move comes after the recent signing of the GENIUS Act, a landmark stablecoin legislation that creates a clearer regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers in the U.S.
CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized that Tether’s U.S. domestic strategy is well underway, aiming specifically at the institutional markets as a priority. Tether seeks to establish USDT as the primary digital dollar for both domestic and cross-border financial transactions.
The strategy will specifically target institutional markets in the U.S. and aims to use stablecoin for not only payments but also interbank transfers and trade. This move follows the signing of the GENIUS Act in July 2025, a law that could pave the way for stablecoins to be used more widely and legally within both the crypto ecosystem and traditional financial infrastructure.
Important aspects of Tether’s strategic approach include focusing on U.S. institutional payment rails and interbank settlements, positioning USDT for significant use in large-scale financial operations and trade. The company also benefits from the GENIUS Act, which allows stablecoins to integrate more broadly within mainstream financial infrastructure and compete more effectively with rivals like Circle’s USDC.
Tether remains committed to targeting emerging markets as well, as stated by CEO Paolo Ardoino. The circulating supply of the U.S. dollar Tether (USDT) exceeds $162 billion, reaffirming its dominant position globally despite previous regulatory setbacks in the U.S. and Europe.
Notably, the supply of USDT has increased by 18% since the beginning of the year, while the supply of USDC, issued by its closest competitor Circle, remains at approximately $64.7 billion. Tether has been in contact with various audit firms in recent weeks, as noted by CEO Paolo Ardoino.
However, it is important to note that the regulatory issues Tether has faced, including the ban on its operations in New York and fines from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, have not been resolved. Independent audit reports have yet to be released.
In an interview with Bloomberg, CEO Ardoino announced the decision, stating that the company has made significant progress in shaping its internal strategy in the U.S. Despite these challenges, Tether is showing signs of emerging from the regulatory pressures it has faced in the past.
References:
- CoinDesk
- Bloomberg
- Decrypt
- Financial Times
- Tether, with its focus on institutional markets, aims to integrate USDT into the U.S. financial infrastructure, leveraging the benefits of the recently passed GENIUS Act and positioning itself for growth in the business and technology sectors.
- Despite facing regulatory challenges in the past, Tether's ongoing engagement with audit firms and continued expansion into emerging markets, such as Turkey, demonstrates the company's resilience and commitment to maintaining its dominance in the global digital dollar market.
