Leading the stablecoin sector, Tether (USDT) is inching closer to a historic achievement. According to data, Tether’s market value has rapidly increased, showing a 7% rise since the beginning of the year, reaching $98 billion. This figure is considered a step towards an all-time high market value of $100 billion.
Tether Continues Its Growth Trend
This notable growth of Tether reflects the company’s strong financial performance. According to recent financial reports, Tether announced a profit of approximately $3 billion in the 4th quarter of 2023. A significant portion of this profit stems from U.S. Treasury bonds, while the remainder is due to the increased value of reserve assets such as gold and Bitcoin.
However, there are some concerns regarding Tether’s rise. Bloomberg’s senior commodity strategist Mike McGlone stated that Tether’s widespread adoption could strengthen the U.S. dollar and potentially exert downward pressure on traditional assets.
Growth Persists Despite Regulatory Pressure
The increase in Tether’s market value is happening under the shadow of growing regulatory scrutiny on stablecoins, especially in the United States. JPMorgan’s latest report highlights the risks that Tether’s dependency on the U.S. dollar and potential interactions with U.S. institutions might pose in terms of regulatory oversight.
During this period, Tether’s main competitor, USD Coin (USDC), also exhibited significant growth, reaching a market value of $28 billion. However, it still lags considerably behind Tether.
Tether reaching a $100 billion market value would undoubtedly be a positive development for the cryptocurrency world. On the other hand, the impact of this rise on global financial markets and regulatory authorities continues to be a topic of debate.
The challenges awaiting Tether and how it will perform to overcome them remain uncertain. However, one clear fact is that the potential record market value of $100 billion Tether could significantly influence the future of the cryptocurrency market.