Paolo Ardoino’s U.S. Debut Signals Tether’s Growing Influence

Paolo Ardoino, the face of Tether, received applause as he took the stage at the Cantor Fitzgerald Global Technology Conference in New York. Dressed casually in a Ralph Lauren polo and gray khakis, he contrasted sharply with the business attire around him—yet he likely held the deepest pockets in the room.

“This is my first trip to America,” he said. “It’s beautiful. I feel very welcomed.”

Until recently, Ardoino avoided the U.S., as Tether faced scrutiny from regulators, including the DOJ and CFTC. But that’s changing. Over the past week, he toured Washington D.C., meeting with policymakers and speaking at a Bitcoin Policy Institute event.

Tether, despite its offshore status and plans to establish a headquarters in El Salvador, remains deeply tied to the U.S. economy. The company holds nearly $100 billion in U.S. Treasuries—making it one of the largest U.S. debt holders globally. It also settled charges with the CFTC and NYDFS in 2021, though reports suggest ongoing DOJ investigations.

“We’ve been through hell,” Ardoino told the audience. “People said if I came to the U.S., I’d be arrested… but we’re still here, right?”

With a $13 billion profit in 2024 and USDT dominating 60% of the stablecoin market, Tether is expanding into AI, real-world asset tokenization, and education. Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers push for stablecoin regulations in a $200 billion market.

Tether’s influence extends beyond crypto. The firm invested $775 million in video platform Rumble, aligning with U.S. conservative audiences. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, former Cantor Fitzgerald CEO, also confirmed ties to Tether during his confirmation hearing.

As Tether strengthens its U.S. presence, its impact on global finance continues to grow.