Tether CEO Sets $1 Trillion Target for US Stablecoin as Industry Eyes American Market Reopening

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino laid out an ambitious roadmap for the company's US-focused stablecoin during TOKEN2049's second day Thursday, projecting that USAT could achieve a $1 trillion market capitalization within three to five years.

Speaking on a panel titled "USA₮ — Tether in America," Ardoino defended the aggressive target as achievable based on the expansion rate Tether has observed with its flagship USDT stablecoin. The projection underscores growing industry optimism about renewed US engagement with digital assets.

Nathan McCauley, CEO of Anchorage Digital, the federally chartered bank serving as USAT's issuer, reinforced the bullish sentiment during the discussion, playfully suggesting the "T" in USAT could represent "trillions" rather than Tether. Anchorage Digital holds the distinction of being the only crypto-native institution to secure a federal banking charter.

The panel, which also featured USAT CEO Bo Hines and Cantor Fitzgerald Chairman Brandon Lutnick, comes amid heightened investor interest in Tether's broader ambitions. Reports indicate the stablecoin issuer is pursuing a $20 billion capital raise at a $500 billion valuation – a figure that would place Tether alongside tech behemoths like OpenAI in terms of market size.

Central to the enthusiasm surrounding USAT is the perception of a more favorable regulatory landscape emerging in the United States. Industry participants increasingly view the American market as reopening to crypto innovation after years of regulatory uncertainty, creating what many see as a significant growth opportunity for compliant stablecoin products.

Tether's existing dominance in the stablecoin sector—USDT maintains the largest market share globally—provides a foundation for Ardoino's projections. The company's track record of scaling its original product appears to inform confidence that a US-specific offering can capture substantial market share as institutional and retail adoption accelerates.

Ardoino also revealed a distribution strategy centered on Rumble, the video platform in which Tether holds a significant stake . The stablecoin issuer plans to leverage Rumble's 51 million monthly active users to drive USAT adoption, with Rumble preparing to launch its own crypto wallet later this year according to Ardoino. The integration would provide USAT with immediate access to a substantial user base as the token seeks to establish market presence.

TOKEN2049 is scheduled to return to Marina Bay Sands on October 7-8, 2026.