Tether CEO Claims 500 Million USDT Users Globally Amidst Scrutiny
Tether CEO Claims 500 Million USDT Users Globally Amidst Scrutiny
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino announced that its stablecoin, USDT, has reached 500 million users worldwide, hailing it as a monumental achievement in financial inclusion. With a circulating supply of $182 billion, USDT is reportedly used extensively in emerging markets for payments and as a store of value. However, the claim has sparked questions from industry observers regarding the methodology for counting users, as the definition remains unclear and the figure is self-reported, limiting independent verification. Regulators are also increasing their scrutiny of stablecoins, which could impact future use cases.
Tether CEO Claims USDT Reached 500 Million Users Worldwide
According to Tether executive Paolo Ardoino, the stablecoin USDT has reached 500 million users worldwide. The figure was posted on his social feed. Based on reports, that user base would represent about 6.25% of the global population. At the same time, USDT's circulating supply is reported to be roughly $182 billion.
The announcement came in a short social post from Ardoino celebrating the milestone. It's the "biggest financial inclusion achievement" in history, he said. The company frames this as a major step for financial access, pointing to broad use in markets where traditional banking is limited. The method used to count “users” has not been made public, and the figure appears to be self-reported by Tether.
Use Patterns In Emerging Markets
In several emerging economies, market participants say stablecoins are used for more than trading. They are used for cross-border payments, local transfers, and as a quick store of value when local currencies fall in value. Based on reports, people and businesses often move money into USDT to avoid volatility in their own currencies. That practical use is part of why the company emphasizes the inclusion angle.
Market Size And Supply Figures
USDT's reported $182 billion supply places it among the largest stablecoins in circulation. Analysts tracking on-chain data note that a large portion of stablecoin flows still occur on major blockchains and centralized exchanges.
Verification And Counting Caveats
The 500 million claim has raised questions from industry observers and some analysts. How a “user” is defined is unclear: It wasn't fully disclosed in detail if it is a unique person, a wallet address, an account on a partner platform, or an aggregate of multiple identifiers. Reports emphasize that without detailed methodology, outside verification is limited. The number should be viewed as a company figure that signals scale, but not as an independently audited headcount.
Global Reach And Inclusion Claims
Tether positions the milestone as a financial inclusion success. If even a portion of the 500 million are new entrants to digital finance, that would be significant. Meanwhile, regulators in several jurisdictions are watching stablecoins more closely. That scrutiny could affect how stablecoins are used in payments and remittances going forward.