365Crypto
Tether has reached an astonishing milestone: 500 million users worldwide. That’s around 6.25% of the global population now using the USDT stablecoin — a number its CEO Paolo Ardoino calls “the biggest financial inclusion event in history.”
A Bank in Your Pocket
Tether’s USDT, which mirrors the US dollar, allows people everywhere to send, save, and trade without needing a bank. For the 1.4 billion adults who still lack access to traditional financial systems, that’s game-changing.
(Stablecoin: a cryptocurrency whose value is pegged to a stable asset like the US dollar.)
Real Users, Real Impact
Tether says its 500 million figure reflects actual people, not just wallet addresses. Many of them use USDT daily — not to speculate, but to survive.
In Kenya, small businesses use USDT to import goods and protect savings from inflation and currency swings. Tether even released a short documentary showcasing how stablecoins are keeping local economies alive.
Store of Value for Millions
About 37% of USDT users hold their tokens as a store of value — similar to how savers use the U.S. dollar in unstable economies.
With a market cap above $182 billion, Tether dominates the stablecoin sector, holding 58% of the total market, well ahead of Circle’s USDC at $76 billion.
Looking Ahead: Tether’s Big Ambitions
Reports suggest Tether is exploring a $20 billion fundraising deal that could value the company at $500 billion, placing it among the world’s most valuable private firms. Financial services giant Cantor Fitzgerald is advising on the potential raise.
