Tether targets $500 billion valuation, ranks as 17th largest U.S. Treasury holder globally

Tether is seeking a $500 billion valuation while positioning the U.S. at the core of its expansion strategy, Bloomberg reports. The firm launched a new token in the U.S. market in January, stepped up lobbying in Washington, and is promoting its compliant token USAT domestically with support from Trump administration allies including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose family company has invested in Tether. CEO Paolo Ardoino said the company aims to complete a full audit by the end of 2026 and is in discussions with Big Four accounting firms, after disclosing over $10 billion in profit last year and holdings of about $122 billion in U.S. Treasuries, ranking it as the 17th largest holder globally. Tether has made over 140 investments worldwide across sectors including artificial intelligence, energy, and brain-computer interfaces.