Tether Launches USAT Stablecoin

Tether has announced the launch of a new U.S.-regulated stablecoin, USAT, and appointed Bo Hines, a former White House advisor, as CEO of its newly formed U.S. division, Tether U.S., headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, reports CNBC.

The move marks a major shift for Tether, which is actively rebranding itself from a once-controversial crypto issuer to a key partner for American regulators and law enforcement — a strategy aligned with the pro-crypto stance of President Donald Trump’s administration.

Hines previously chaired the Presidential Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, giving him experience in navigating Washington’s regulatory landscape.

Unlike USDT, Tether’s long-running global stablecoin launched in 2014, USAT will operate under the U.S. GENIUS Act, making it suitable for American businesses and institutions that must comply with domestic financial regulations. USAT will run on Tether’s Hadron tokenization platform, with Anchorage Digital serving as its issuer and Cantor Fitzgerald acting as the reserve custodian and preferred primary dealer.

“Tether pioneered the stablecoin industry over a decade ago with USDT, which has become the backbone of the digital economy and a lifeline for millions in emerging markets,” said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino. “USAT is our commitment to ensuring the U.S. dollar not only stays dominant in the digital era — but thrives.”

Tether also highlighted that while it has had no physical presence in the U.S., it has long supported the dollar by investing heavily in U.S. Treasury bonds. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently underscored this point, saying stablecoins will play a key role in keeping the dollar the world’s leading reserve currency.

Stablecoins’ market capitalization has grown about 34% this year, according to CryptoQuant, signaling strong demand and providing fertile ground for Tether’s U.S. pivot.