Tether Appoints Paolo Ardoino as CEO
Tether, the issuer of the popular stablecoin USDT, has announced that its Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Paolo Ardoino, will now serve as the company’s CEO. This move comes as part of significant changes in Tether’s management.
Ardoino Continues CTO Role at Bitfinex
In addition to his new position as CEO of Tether, Ardoino will continue to fulfill his role as CTO for Bitfinex, a cryptocurrency exchange closely affiliated with Tether.
The previous CEO, Jean-Louis van der Velde (JL), will transition into an advisory role at Tether while retaining his position as Bitfinex’s CEO. JL expressed confidence in Ardoino’s ability to lead Tether into a new era.
Community Reactions
Many community members were under the impression that Ardoino was already the CEO due to his prominent presence and public interactions on behalf of Tether. Some even joked about no longer having to question why the CTO was handling interviews.
Controversies Surrounding Tether
Tether has faced skepticism and regulatory scrutiny regarding its reserves. In 2021, it was ordered by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to pay a $41 million fine over claims about the full backing of USDT with US dollars. The company also settled with the New York Attorney General for $18.5 million over false claims about USDT’s backing.
Despite these controversies, USDT remains the dominant stablecoin in the market, accounting for 67.54% of stablecoin dominance.
Hot Take: Tether’s Leadership Shift Marks a New Era
Tether’s appointment of Paolo Ardoino as CEO signifies a new chapter for the stablecoin issuer. With his experience as CTO and his public presence, Ardoino is well-suited to lead Tether through the challenges it faces and further establish USDT’s dominance in the market.