Tether $144 Billion Giant Grows 14% in Users—Circle Feels the Heat

Over 400 million people—outnumbering the entire U.S.—use Tether (USDT) daily, propelling its market cap to $144.1 billion.

The stablecoin giant added 14% users surge since October 2024, adding 50 million in five months.

CEO Paolo Ardoino dropped the stat on X on March 27, eyeing a 1 billion-user horizon, while rivals Circle scrambles to bolster its Asian foothold.

Tether’s 14% Surge in Five Months

Tether’s user base ballooned from 350 million in October 2024 to over 400 million by March 27, 2025.

That’s a 14% increase in less than half a year, a pace that outstrips many traditional financial growth curves.

Ardoino shared the figure in a post on X, tying it to Tether’s strategy of grassroots adoption.

The company’s stablecoin, USDT, now boasts a market cap of $144.1 billion, cementing its status as the largest in the sector.

Source: X

The growth isn’t slowing. Ardoino predicted Tether could hit 1 billion users, though he didn’t specify a timeline or detail how the company tracks its estimates.

Still, the numbers speak: 50 million new users in five months signal a demand that’s hard to ignore.

Ardoino doesn’t see Tether as a lone player. He called it part of a “stablecoin multiverse” in his March 27 X post, noting that “hundreds of companies and governments” are launching or planning their own stablecoins.

Tether’s reach spans blockchains like TRON, Ethereum, and others, with a strong foothold in emerging markets. This multi-network presence has fueled its 14% user surge since October 2024.

Unlike traditional finance, which Ardoino said “watched from their ivory towers,” Tether built its base “in the streets, among other people.”

The approach has paid off, with USDT’s $144.1 billion market cap dwarfing competitors. Yet, the multiverse he envisions suggests a crowded field ahead.

Circle Faces Pressure in Asia

Circle, Tether’s main rival , isn’t sitting still. The company has ramped up efforts to expand in Asia, a region ripe for stablecoin adoption.

But Tether’s 400 million users and 14% growth since October 2024 cast a long shadow. Circle’s USDC trails in market cap—nowhere near Tether’s $144.1 billion—leaving it to play catch-up.

Tether’s edge lies in its scale and speed. A 50 million user increase in five months signals momentum Circle must counter. As competition heats up, Asia could become the next battleground for stablecoin supremacy.

Tether isn’t content to rest on its laurels. The stablecoin giant bought a 30% stake in Be Water, a Rome-based broadcast media firm.

Source: X

The move hints at a broader investment strategy, diversifying beyond its $144.1 billion stablecoin core. Details remain sparse, but the acquisition aligns with Tether’s pattern of exploring new ventures.

Meanwhile, its user base keeps climbing—400 million and counting—driven by adoption across TRON, Ethereum, and emerging markets. The Be Water deal could signal Tether’s next chapter.

A Market in Motion

Tether’s 14% user growth—from 350 million in October 2024 to over 400 million by March 27, 2025—underscores its grip on the stablecoin market.

With a $144.1 billion market cap and a 50 million user spike, it’s outpacing rivals like Circle, which is doubling down in Asia.