Tether has lowered its fundraising goal from $20 billion to $5 billion

On February 4, the Financial Times reported that stablecoin issuer Tether has reduced its funding target from a prior $15 billion–$20 billion range to $5 billion, as investors have raised questions about its $500 billion valuation. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino told an interviewer the $15 billion–$20 billion figure was a “misunderstanding”—it was only the maximum amount the company was willing to sell, not a formal target. He stressed Tether is highly profitable and “very satisfied” even without selling equity. Ardoino also likened Tether to an AI firm, saying: “AI companies generate the same profit as us—except there’s a negative sign in front.” The stablecoin issuer reportedly earned ~$10 billion last year, mostly from returns on its held assets, though 2025 profit is expected to fall by roughly 25% year-over-year. Earlier reports noted that in September 2025, Tether sought to raise up to $20 billion at a $500 billion valuation.