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WSJ Report: Tether, the Cryptocurrency Kingpin, Disrupting Global Sanctions with S&P Rating of USDT Nearing All-Time High

Tether’s Disruptive Influence on Global Sanctions and S&P Rating Nearing Dangerous Levels

Despite being the largest stablecoin globally, Tether’s parent company, Tether, reported a staggering net profit of $6.2 billion last year, surpassing the $5.5 billion of asset management giant BlackRock. However, a recent article in The Wall Street Journal pointed out that while Tether has successfully infiltrated the financial system, it has also disrupted global sanctions.

Tether’s Impressive Financial Performance

Tether released its financial report for the second quarter of 2024 on July 31, revealing a record-breaking net profit of $5.2 billion for the first half of the year. In the second quarter alone, operating profits reached $1.3 billion, setting a new high for the company. With only around 100 employees, each Tether employee brought in an average profit of $62 million in 2023, far surpassing traditional financial institutions like Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and BlackRock.

The Shadowy World of Tether and USDT

Despite its financial success, concerns have been raised about Tether’s role in global finance. An article by The Wall Street Journal highlighted how USDT, Tether’s stablecoin, has become a tool for circumventing global sanctions and illicit activities. With daily trading volumes reaching $190 billion, USDT’s 1:1 peg to the US dollar allows it to operate outside US regulatory oversight, making it attractive to sanctioned individuals and illicit actors for transactions.

Challenges and Warnings

Efforts are being made to regulate USDT, with initiatives like Europe’s Mica and the US Stablecoin Act, and Tether cooperating with the US OFCA to freeze wallets linked to sanctioned individuals. However, the extent to which these measures will impact USDT’s underground financial status remains uncertain. Consumer advocacy group Consumers’ Research has also warned about Tether’s lack of transparency in its US dollar reserves, echoing concerns raised by S&P Global Ratings, who rated USDT as a level 4 stablecoin due to opaque reserves.

Conclusion

While Tether has faced criticisms and regulatory challenges, recent collaborations and improvements indicate efforts to address these issues. As Tether expands into AI and alliances to combat financial crimes, its financial prowess and disruptive influence in the cryptocurrency space continue to raise questions about its impact on global finance.

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