- Tether is seeking $15–20 billion in funding at a $500 billion valuation, with SoftBank and Ark reportedly in talks.
- A $500 billion valuation could make Tether one of the largest private companies in the world.
- Support from SoftBank and Ark could bolster Tether’s push for mainstream legitimacy.
Tether Holdings SA, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, is in early discussions with major investors—including SoftBank Group Corp. and Ark Investment Management LLC—regarding a multi-billion-dollar fundraising round that could place the company among the most valuable private firms globally, Bloomberg reports.
The funding effort could value Tether at up to $500 billion.
The company is reportedly seeking between $15 billion and $20 billion in exchange for roughly a 3% equity stake via a private placement.
Potential $500 Billion Valuation
If successful, this raise would represent Tether’s largest effort to secure external capital to date and could rank the company alongside the highest-valued private enterprises worldwide.
At a $500 billion valuation, Tether would surpass many blue-chip global firms in size, reflecting both the scale of its token issuance and the financial returns generated by its reserves.
Tether’s dollar-pegged stablecoin, USDT, is widely used to transfer value across cryptocurrency markets and beyond, providing investors with a way to trade outside traditional banking rails.
Backed by cash-like assets—predominantly U.S. Treasury securities—the company has earned substantial income from interest on those reserves.
Chief Technology Officer and CEO Paolo Ardoino leads day-to-day operations, while co-founder Giancarlo Devasini serves as chairman and remains the company’s largest shareholder.
Bloomberg estimated that a $500 billion valuation would value Devasini’s personal stake at nearly $224 billion.
Strategic Backing from SoftBank and Ark
Tokyo-based SoftBank, led by founder Masayoshi Son, has a long record of pursuing ambitious technology investments, spanning self-driving vehicles, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence.
An investment in Tether would align with SoftBank’s strategy of backing disruptive opportunities, similar to its planned $30 billion commitment to OpenAI.
Ark Investment Management, led by Cathie Wood, has also shown sustained interest in digital assets.
Ark previously invested in Circle Internet Financial, a leading rival in the stablecoin space.
Circle’s USD Coin (USDC) currently has a market capitalization near $74 billion, compared with roughly $173.5 billion of tokens issued by Tether.
Potential involvement from SoftBank and Ark could strengthen Tether’s efforts to expand its footprint in mainstream finance and enhance its political credibility—particularly in the United States, where the company has faced scrutiny over its role in facilitating illicit transactions in the past.
Advisors and Industry Impact
Cantor Fitzgerald LP, the New York-based investment bank long led by Howard Lutnick, the U.S. Commerce Secretary, is advising Tether on the fundraising effort.
The firm also provides custody services for some of Tether’s assets, underscoring its role in the company’s financial operations.
The proposed raise comes as stablecoins increasingly attract attention from investors, regulators, and policymakers.
With U.S. authorities preparing stricter oversight of digital assets, securing high-profile financial backers could be critical to Tether’s positioning in global markets.
Should discussions progress and financing be confirmed, a $500 billion valuation would mark a milestone not only for Tether but for the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem, signaling further integration of digital assets into mainstream finance.