Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, is preparing to introduce a new U.S.-focused digital dollar token aimed at reaching 100 million Americans. The company’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, revealed in a recent interview that this stablecoin, named USAT, is slated for a December launch.
The USAT token is specifically designed to comply with U.S. federal regulations under the GENIUS Act, ensuring robust legal alignment within the domestic market. USAT will be issued by Tether America, a venture formed between Tether and Anchorage Digital, a regulated U.S. crypto bank. This partnership underscores Tether’s commitment to operating within established regulatory frameworks.
A significant part of Tether’s strategy to promote USAT involves leveraging its considerable investment in Rumble, a popular U.S.-based video sharing platform. Tether injected $775 million into Rumble last year, and the platform currently boasts 51 million active monthly users in the United States. Ardoino indicated that Rumble’s audience could serve as a foundational user base for USAT adoption.
To expand beyond Rumble’s audience, Tether plans to invest in additional companies—potentially social media and content platforms with comparable user engagement—to broaden the token’s reach to approximately 100 million Americans. Although Ardoino did not specify these partners, the goal is to position USAT as a preferred payment method within the creator economy and broader digital landscape.
“For the U.S. market, you need a professional and digital approach to money that can compete with established players like PayPal,” Ardoino stated. He emphasized that Tether already has strong user traction to support economic activity with USAT, which the company believes will create a highly competitive offering.
The CEO also expressed confidence that the initiative will enable Tether to gain market share from competitors who previously challenged its growth in the stablecoin space.
Beyond USAT, Tether continues to benefit from expanding stablecoin adoption globally, especially in emerging markets where access to U.S. dollars is limited. Its flagship token USDT has grown to a supply exceeding $182 billion, reflecting a one-third increase since the beginning of the year. This growth cements USDT’s dominant position in the stablecoin market, which totals around $300 billion. In comparison, Circle’s USDC ranks second with roughly $72 billion in supply, up about 70% in 2025.
Additionally, Tether’s gold-backed token, XAUT, has experienced notable growth alongside rising gold prices. The token’s market capitalization recently reached a record $2.2 billion, more than tripling within the year. Ardoino attributed much of this surge to retail demand, particularly in Central and South America and Asia, where investors are increasingly adopting tokenized gold assets.
Institutional involvement is also rising; Nasdaq-listed Prestige Wealth recently raised $150 million, supported by bitcoin lender Antalpha, to accumulate XAUT tokens. This development highlights growing interest in tokenized commodities as part of diversified investment strategies.
Overall, Tether’s multifaceted approach—including the upcoming USAT rollout, strategic investments, and expanding token offerings—illustrates its ambition to deepen digital currency integration within the U.S. economy and beyond.
