Tether Plans AI Apps for Developing Markets as Global Users Top 650M

Tether is preparing to push beyond stablecoins with a new generation of lightweight AI applications aimed primarily at users in developing markets.

CEO Paolo Ardoino said the company now reaches more than 650 million users worldwide and wants to use that distribution network to deliver practical AI tools across areas such as health, finance, and sports.

Read more: Stablecoin Market Loses $10B in a Month — USDC Outpaces USDT in Transaction Activity Tether Wants AI to Run on Regular Phones Ardoino argues that smartphones are already widespread even in poorer countries, creating an opportunity to distribute smaller AI models without requiring large data centers for every interaction.

The company’s strongest existing footprint is in emerging economies, particularly regions such as Africa and South America, where USDT is frequently used as an alternative to unstable local currencies and as a way to access U.S. dollars.