Tether has launched a new stablecoin, USAT, as it steps up its push into the U.S. digital asset market. CEO Paolo Ardoino outlined the plan in remarks delivered in San Salvador, where the company has moved its global headquarters. He said the product is part of a long-term effort to deepen Tether’s role inside the American financial system, and added that the company could reach a valuation near $500 billion if its expansion continues to gain ground.
Stablecoin demand sits at the center of the growth plan
Ardoino said the stablecoin sector is still drawing stronger interest from institutions and other market participants. Tether is trying to turn that demand into a broader financial footprint, with USAT serving as a direct entry point for a larger U.S. presence. In the article’s framing, the launch is not an isolated product release. It is part of a wider attempt to expand Tether’s weight in the global stablecoin market.
The company’s recent financial figures give that strategy some support. Tether reported more than $10 billion in profit in 2025 while operating with about 300 employees worldwide. It also holds roughly $122 billion in U.S. Treasury securities in its reserves. That places Tether among the largest private holders of short-term government debt instruments and ties its operations more tightly to the wider dollar liquidity system.
Profit strength and Treasury reserves add to Tether’s scale
Tether is also using its capital beyond stablecoin issuance. The report says the company has funded projects linked to AI infrastructure, blockchain development, energy production, and digital media platforms. That points to a business model that is widening over time, with stablecoin revenue supporting investment activity across multiple technology segments.
USAT fits into that broader structure. In the near term, it expands Tether’s product lineup in a market the company wants to penetrate more deeply. In the longer view, it reflects an effort to convert reserve strength and profit generation into a larger position across digital finance.
Policy changes in Washington create a better opening
Tether’s renewed U.S. focus comes as the regulatory climate around stablecoins shifts. The report states that Donald Trump is currently serving as U.S. president, and members of his administration have signaled a more open stance toward digital asset innovation. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has appeared supportive of initiatives that encourage stablecoin development inside the American financial system.
Lawmakers are also moving faster on discussions around clearer rules for stablecoin issuers. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently said dollar-linked digital assets could increase demand for U.S. Treasury securities, a point that matters for issuers whose reserves are built around government debt. For Tether, that policy backdrop gives its U.S. expansion a more favorable setting than in earlier periods.
Compliance questions remain as expansion continues
Tether is still dealing with scrutiny over how stablecoins are used in illicit finance. The report says USDT facilitated nearly $1 billion in transactions linked to Iran’s IRGC between 2023 and 2025. That remains a major pressure point as the company tries to grow more aggressively in the United States.
Tether says it cooperates with authorities investigating suspicious blockchain transactions. According to the report, the company has frozen about $4 billion worth of USDT following official law enforcement requests, and nearly half of those freezes came after directives from the U.S. government. As USAT enters the market, those compliance measures are likely to stay central to how Tether presents itself in front of regulators and institutions.