Tether Reaches 500 Million Users, Marking Major Leap for Global Financial Inclusion

Quick Breakdown 

• Tether surpasses 500 million users worldwide, covering about 6.25% of the global population.
• A new documentary showcases how Kenyans rely on USDT for daily transactions and business survival.
• Tether’s valuation talks could place the firm among the world’s most valuable private companies at $500 billion.

Tether’s global impact reaches 500 million users

Tether’s US dollar-pegged stablecoin, USDT, has officially surpassed 500 million users, marking what CEO Paolo Ardoino described as “likely the biggest financial inclusion achievement in history.” The milestone, announced Tuesday, highlights how crypto is filling financial gaps for those excluded from traditional banking systems.

Tether USDT reached officially 500 million users!
Likely the biggest financial inclusion achievement in history. https://t.co/jbmnMDwidi

— Paolo Ardoino 🤖 (@paoloardoino) October 21, 2025

According to Tether, the figure represents 500 million real individuals, not just wallet addresses, meaning that around 6.25% of the world’s population has used USDT.

The achievement underscores crypto’s potential as a lifeline for the 1.4 billion adults worldwide who remain unbanked, as reported by the World Bank. With only a smartphone and internet connection, users can access, store, and transact money securely using stablecoins like USDT.

Kenya: a case study in stablecoin survival

To commemorate the milestone, Tether released a 10-minute documentary highlighting how people in Kenya use USDT not for speculation but for survival. Many Kenyans, faced with high inflation and a weakening shilling, turn to stablecoins to preserve their savings and keep small businesses running.

Tether revealed that 37% of its users hold USDT primarily as a store of value, while others rely on it for cross-border transactions and import payments — a vital workaround for limited access to stable fiat systems.

Market dominance and potential $500 billion valuation

USDT remains the largest stablecoin globally, boasting a market capitalization of $182.4 billion and commanding a 58.4% share of the stablecoin market, according to CoinGecko. Its closest competitor, Circle’s USDC, trails behind at $76.8 billion.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Tether is in discussions to raise up to $20 billion at a valuation near $500 billion, which would position it among the world’s most valuable private firms. The company reported $4.9B profit in Q2 2025 with $162.5B in reserves. Cantor Fitzgerald is reportedly serving as the lead adviser in the talks.

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