Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether and former CTO of Bitfinex, shares his remarkable journey in the crypto world. He discusses Tether's pivotal role in Bitcoin adoption and financial inclusion, especially in Africa. The conversation dives into Tether's strategic shift towards Bitcoin investments and energy kiosks aimed at empowering communities. Paolo also highlights the resilience of decentralized systems amidst geopolitical challenges and the importance of education in advancing cryptocurrency adoption.
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insights INSIGHT
USDT As A Gateway To Bitcoin
Paolo Ardoino says Tether reached 420 million users in emerging markets and grows ~30 million wallets per quarter.
He positions USDT as a stepping stone to teach those users about Bitcoin and enable financial inclusion.
insights INSIGHT
Tether Holds Large US Treasury Position
Paolo reveals Tether holds more than $125 billion in US treasuries and was the fifth largest purchaser in 2024.
He argues reinvesting profits into Bitcoin tech, education, and mining aligns Tether with Bitcoin adoption.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Proactively Shape Public Perception
Paolo urges companies not to let competitors define them and to engage publicly with regulators and lawmakers.
He says Tether began explaining its mission directly in DC to reshape public perception.
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In this episode of Bitcoin Backstage, we sit down with Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. Paolo shares his journey from Bitfinex developer to leading one of the most profitable companies in the world. He explains Tether’s role in Bitcoin adoption, financial inclusion, and powering communities across Africa. We also dive into Lightning, free speech, and the company’s bold investments in Bitcoin. Get ready for a candid look at how Tether sees itself as the underdog fighting for freedom.🔸Connect with Paolo Ardoino on X: https://x.com/paoloardoino🔸Connect with Isabella Santos on X: https://x.com/isabellasg3💥 SNAG $10 IN BITCOIN WHEN YOU JOIN FOLD WITH BITCOIN MAGAZINE AND MAKE YOUR FIRST PURCHASE WITH THE FOLD CARD, BUY BITCOIN, OR BUY A GIFT CARD 💥👉 https://foldapp.com/bitcoinmagazine #ad ⚔️ SIGN UP WITH DUELBITS TODAY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN UP TO 2 BTC👉 https://bm.b.tc/YT-Duelbits #ad 00:00 Decentralizing the Dollar: Why Tether Matters00:24 Paolo Ardoino’s Orange Pill Story01:11 From Sci-Fi Coder to Bitcoin Believer02:38 Bitfinex, Tether & the Road to CEO03:06 From U.S. Investigations to D.C. Invitations03:59 420M Users & Tether’s Global Growth05:26 Tether Becomes a Top U.S. Treasury Holder06:14 Billions Back Into Bitcoin: Mining & Education07:02 Competitors Tried to Block Us (They Failed)07:38 “Unstoppable Together” – Tether’s Motto09:36 Announcing 21: Tether, SoftBank & New Partners11:14 Why Tether Moved to El Salvador13:09 Building 10,000 Energy Kiosks Across Africa15:22 How Tether Decentralizes U.S. Debt17:15 Could the U.S. Dollar Collapse?18:09 Bitcoin as a Strategic Reserve19:26 Is Lightning Ready to Scale?21:49 The Future of Bitcoin Payment Layers23:28 Will Tether Switch from USD to Bitcoin?24:25 Can Politicians Control Bitcoin?25:07 The ETF Problem: Are Bitcoiners to Blame?26:51 Making Bitcoin Easy for Billions26:54 Why Tether Invested in Rumble28:16 Supporting Underdogs Over Wall Street29:31 Paolo’s Hottest Bitcoin Take#Bitcoin #PaoloArdoino #Tether #BitcoinBackstage #BitcoinEducation #BitcoinMining #BitcoinAfrica #ElSalvadorBitcoin #BitcoinLightning #BitcoinFreedom #Stablecoins #BitcoinUnderdogs #BitcoinInclusion #BitcoinAdoption #BitcoinFuture #BitcoinTreasury #BitcoinPolicy #BitcoinResilience #BitcoinDecentralization
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