Tether says its USDT network adds more than 30 million new wallets each quarter, lifting its user base to about 500 million. Chief executive Paolo Ardoino says most users are in developing countries.
Tether recorded 36.25 million new wallets in the third quarter of 2024, a 9% increase. By November 2025, Ardoino said the total had reached roughly 500 million and was on track to exceed 530 million in early 2026.
USDT Wallet Growth Accelerates
More than 35 million customers joined the network during the fourth quarter of 2025. USDT’s market capitalization reached $187.3 billion. On-chain data showed 139.1 million holders, while monthly active users hit a record 24.8 million.
Tether linked the expansion to real-world demand rather than speculative trading. Its attestation for the first three quarters of 2025 reported 174.4 billion USDT in circulation with adequate reserves.
Ardoino has consistently presented USDT as a banking, savings, and remittance tool for regions where traditional finance falls short.
Widespread access and low-cost cross-border transfers have also supported adoption. In many developing economies, USDT serves as a digital alternative to the US dollar. It is also used for exchange trading outside the United States, with new supply entering through institutional purchases and retail fiat deposits.
Tether Broadens AI and Energy Investments
Tether is expanding beyond stablecoins into artificial intelligence, communications infrastructure, energy, financial technology, and technology media.
It recently upgraded its QVAC software development kit and integrated TurboQuant, which compresses complex AI models so applications can run efficiently on everyday devices without specialized data centers.
Antalpha committed up to $40 million to Tether Gold at market rates through mid-2026. Backed by physical gold, XAUT combines asset stability with blockchain transaction speed.
Africa Expansion Supports Digital Payments
Tether also backed Kenyan fintech Kotani Pay as Sub-Saharan crypto transactions rose 52% annually.
Chainalysis data showed the region generated more than $205 billion in on-chain activity between July 2024 and June 2025, although it remained the smallest global crypto market.
“At Kotani Pay, we have been fortunate to witness and build on the rising usage of blockchain technology on the continent across a variety of use cases.
This strategic investment from Tether better positions us to continue our work as a bridge to the on-chain economy, connecting millions of Africans to the global financial system,” said Felix Macharia, CEO and Co-founder at Kotani Pay.
Ardoino said, “Kotani Pay’s vision and strong regional presence make it the right fit to drive our shared goals in Africa. Together, we aim to provide businesses and individuals with access to digital assets for their global operations, reduce friction in cross-border transactions, and build a more inclusive financial future while promoting the informed use of digital assets.”
