Tether Scales Operations Globally as CFO McWilliams Strengthens Governance

TLDR:

• Tether now manages 140 investments, actively moving beyond stablecoin operations worldwide.
• The company hires 150 staff, boosting engineering, finance, and regulatory teams globally. 
• CFO Simon McWilliams centralizes London operations to strengthen governance and reporting.
• Tether scales down $20B fundraising plan to $5B, focusing on investors and profitability.

Tether, issuer of the dominant stablecoin USDT with about $187 billion in circulation, is diversifying beyond crypto payments. 

It is moving into a global investment group as investors pushback trim a planned $15–$20 billion capital raise to around $5 billion.

CEO Paolo Ardoino says the firm remains profitable and strategically aligned, while expanding hires, investments, and governance under new CFO Simon McWilliams. 

Tether Expands Beyond Stablecoins into a Global Investment Group

Tether, the issuer of the widely used stablecoin USDT, is accelerating its transformation from a crypto infrastructure provider into a diversified global investment group. 

According to the Financial Times, the company now manages around 140 investments spanning artificial intelligence, commodities, sports equity, and other sectors. 

 This strategic shift aims to reduce reliance on stablecoin operations while broadening revenue streams and market influence

To support this growth, Tether’s workforce is scaling. The company currently employs roughly 300 staff and plans to hire 150 more. 

These new roles focus on engineering, regulatory compliance, finance, and venture investments. Offices in London, the UAE, Brazil, and Ghana indicate a deliberate push toward global reach and regulatory alignment.

Leadership changes are central to the expansion. New CFO Simon McWilliams is centralizing finance and operations in London. 

Sources say he is enhancing governance, streamlining reporting, and improving operational discipline. Centralizing key functions in a major financial hub positions Tether closer to traditional markets, signaling its intent to bridge crypto and conventional finance.

Despite growth, regulatory scrutiny remains. Market participants and regulators continue to request independent audits of Tether’s reserves, even though the company issues quarterly attestations.

Executives argue that strong profitability and transparent reserve management provide flexibility to pursue long-term growth while maintaining market confidence.

Capital Strategy, Investor Response, and Market Position

Tether is simultaneously managing its capital strategy amid investor scrutiny. FT and Reuters report that the company considered a $15–20 billion fundraising scenario, potentially valuing it near $500 billion. 

Following investor feedback, the company is considering a smaller raise, possibly around $5 billion, emphasizing strategic alignment rather than headline figures. CEO Paolo Ardoino clarified that the higher amounts were hypothetical, used for planning, and not formal targets.

Profitability underpins this approach. Tether projects continued earnings growth in 2026, reducing reliance on external capital. 

Internal reinvestment allows the company to fund expansion into diversified sectors while maintaining operational control.

Investor sentiment is mixed. Some remain cautious due to valuation and transparency concerns. 

Nevertheless, Tether’s market dominance is a stabilizing factor. With USDT circulation exceeding $185 billion, the company maintains a strong revenue base and liquidity position.

This allows it to pursue investments across multiple sectors while mitigating crypto-specific risks. In conclusion, Tether is evolving from a stablecoin issuer into a diversified investment and technology platform. 

Through strategic hiring, governance enhancements, portfolio expansion, and disciplined capital management, the company balances ambition with prudence, positioning itself for sustainable long-term growth across digital and traditional financial markets.