Tether trims $20B funding plan amid $500B valuation skepticism

Tether has scaled back its previously reported $20 billion funding plan amid investor skepticism, with advisers suggesting the raise could be reduced to as little as $5 billion, according to the Financial Times.

CEO Paolo Ardoino said the $15–20 billion figure was a “misconception,” calling it the maximum the company was prepared to sell — not a target.

Despite the pullback, Tether maintains its $500 billion valuation goal, which Ardoino defended by comparing Tether’s profitability to #AI companies such as OpenAI.

Tether reported $10 billion profit in 2025, while #USDT remains the world’s largest stablecoin with a $185 billion market cap.