Inside Tether's USDT: How the Sanctioned Stablecoin Issuer Aims to Build a Crypto Empire

Tether, the issuer of the world's largest stablecoin USDT, is navigating a complex landscape of U.S. sanctions and regulatory scrutiny while aggressively expanding its ecosystem. The company's leadership asserts a firm commitment to compliance, stating, "We do not do illegal things," despite being named in sanctions targeting its parent company, iFinex, and its use by the Tornado Cash mixer. Tether's strategy involves moving beyond its core USDT product to develop new ventures in areas like renewable energy mining, AI, and education. This expansion highlights its ambition to solidify its dominance in the crypto market, leveraging USDT's critical role as a liquidity pillar for global digital asset trading. The ongoing tension between rapid growth, regulatory challenges, and the pursuit of legitimacy defines Tether's race to become an unshakeable crypto giant.