Tether CEO Outlines U.S. Strategy as USDT Gas Fee Share Hits 40%

Tether’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, recently emphasized that USDT accounts for nearly 40% of blockchain gas fees across multiple networks, including Ethereum, Solana, Binance Smart Chain, and others [1]. This high share of gas fees, Ardoino argued, reflects the stablecoin’s widespread use, particularly in emerging markets where it serves as a hedge against inflation and local currency volatility. He highlighted that hundreds of millions of users interact with USDT daily, across nine major blockchains [1].

The CEO also underscored Tether’s strategic shift toward the U.S. market, revealing plans to launch a stablecoin that aligns with U.S. regulatory standards [1]. This move comes in response to the Genius Act, a landmark piece of U.S. cryptocurrency legislation, and reflects Tether’s broader ambition to expand into institutional and interbank use cases. Ardoino stated that Tether’s U.S. strategy will focus on providing a stablecoin optimized for settlements, payments, and trading [1].

Despite these developments, Tether will continue to prioritize emerging markets, where the company has operated for over a decade and claims a technological and market advantage over competitors. Ardoino also dismissed speculation about regulatory pressure in the U.S., insisting that Tether maintains a “high level of compliance” and is not driven out of the market by external forces [1].

According to Tether’s latest data, USDT’s circulation has grown to approximately $162 billion, an 18% increase since the beginning of 2025 [1]. The U.S. Treasury’s second-quarter report also revealed that Tether holds over $127 billion in U.S. treasuries, a figure comparable to the holdings of countries like Germany and South Korea. This growing asset base further reinforces Tether’s financial stature.

Analysts from Bernstein predict that USDT will maintain a dominant 65% share of the stablecoin market [1]. They also anticipate that the broader stablecoin market cap could expand 16 times to exceed $4 trillion over the next decade, driven by increasing adoption in payments and tokenized financial services. However, the success of Tether’s new U.S.-compliant stablecoin will depend on its transparency, collateral structure, and regulatory acceptance.

Gas fee data from platforms like GasFeesNow illustrate the cost variability of sending USDT across different blockchains [1]. While the fees are generally low, especially on chains like Solana and BNB, the cost on Tron and Ethereum remains higher, which could impact user behavior and network adoption.

Ardoino’s vision for Tether includes a dual product strategy: one optimized for emerging markets and another tailored to the U.S. and institutional clients. He emphasized that this approach would allow Tether to cater to distinct user needs without compromising its core mission [1].

Source: [1] Tether CEO says USDT drives 40% of gas fees, plans U.S.-compliant stablecoin (https://coinmarketcap.com/community/articles/689241e4112110176664faf4/)