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Tether’s Rise: The Quasi-Sovereign Allocator Reshaping Global Finance

Tether’s Rise: The Quasi-Sovereign Allocator Reshaping Global Finance

Author:
Blockworks
Published:
2025-08-21 00:32:23
8
3

Tether isn't just a stablecoin—it's becoming a shadow central bank with global reach.

How a digital asset outpaced traditional finance

While Wall Street debates yield curves, Tether's USDT quietly processes more daily volume than most national payment systems. It bypasses banking hours, ignores borders, and operates at a speed that makes SWIFT look like medieval messenger pigeons.

The architecture of influence

Built on multiple blockchains, Tether's infrastructure functions as a de facto monetary policy tool for crypto markets. It provides liquidity during crashes, fuels leverage during rallies, and serves as the primary on-ramp for billions in capital flow—all without asking for regulatory permission.

Traditional finance's uncomfortable truth

Bankers dismiss it as 'fake money' while simultaneously watching clients demand exposure. The irony? Many wealth management funds now hold more Tether than some emerging market sovereign debt—talk about an allocation shift that would make any Ivy League economist blush.

Tether's growing dominance reveals an ugly secret: in the digital age, monetary influence goes to whoever moves fastest, not whoever has the fanciest building. The quasi-sovereign allocator is here—and it doesn't care about your traditional finance pedigree.

Source: Plasma

Continuing on the tokenized asset front, Figure Technology Solutions (hereafter “Figure”) formally filed for an IPO. It’s aiming for a Nasdaq listing under the ticker FIGR, with Goldman Sachs, Jefferies and BofA Securities serving as lead underwriters. 

The company reported a 22% YoY increase in revenue to approximately $190.6 million for the first half of 2025. Even more compelling is Figure’s return to profitability: $29.1 million in net income, reversing a $15.6 million loss in the same period last year. Figure also disclosed that, since inception, it has originated over $16 billion in home equity loans, and counts more than 160 partners — including mortgage originators, banks, servicers and credit unions — utilizing its Provenance blockchain-powered lending platform. 

In 2025, public markets have seen a vibrant “crypto IPO summer.” It was marked by standout debuts and filings from major players like Circle, Bullish, Gemini and others, driven by renewed regulatory clarity, investor enthusiasm and institutional backing. Figure Technology distinguishes itself within this wave by anchoring its strategy not around an exchange or stablecoin, but rather around tokenization of real-world, traditionally illiquid assets using public infrastructure (Provenance). With its profitability and healthy growth, Figure showcases a highly touted use case for blockchains in capital markets.

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