USDT’s Institutional Leap: Tether and Cantor Fitzgerald Forge Path to Mainstream Finance

Tether’s strategic partnership with Cantor Fitzgerald underscores a transformative moment for cryptocurrency institutional adoption. This 2021 alliance, solidified prior to Howard Lutnick’s appointment as Commerce Secretary, elevates USDT’s issuer to a regulated counterpart of traditional finance, backed by custodial support from a premier Wall Street brokerage. The collaboration not only challenges stablecoin skepticism but also signals growing institutional confidence in crypto assets. As of May 2025, this partnership continues to reinforce Tether’s pivotal role in bridging decentralized and traditional financial systems.

Tether’s Strategic Partnership with Cantor Fitzgerald Signals Institutional Embrace

Tether’s alliance with Wall Street giant Cantor Fitzgerald marks a pivotal shift in crypto’s institutional trajectory. The 2021 partnership, established before Howard Lutnick’s Commerce Secretary appointment, positions USDT’s issuer as a regulated counterpart to traditional finance—complete with custodial backing from a top-tier brokerage.

The collaboration defies stablecoin skeptics by embedding Tether within the legacy financial infrastructure. Cantor’s role as primary custodian lends operational credibility while SoftBank’s involvement suggests deepening institutional confidence in crypto-native instruments.

This convergence of digital and traditional finance reduces regulatory overhang for Tether, which now operates with Wall Street’s stamp of approval. The partnerships demonstrate how crypto’s most controversial instruments can evolve into mainstream financial infrastructure when adopting traditional finance’s playbook.

Tron Narrows Gap with Ethereum in Tether Circulation After $1B Mint

Tether’s latest $1 billion USDT mint on the Tron network brings its total circulation to $71.4 billion, just $1.4 billion shy of Ethereum’s $72.8 billion. The move signals a potential resurgence for Tron, which previously led Ethereum in USDT circulation from July 2022 to November 2024.

The stablecoin issuer’s strategic allocation across blockchains reflects evolving liquidity preferences in crypto markets. Tron’s lower transaction costs and faster settlements continue attracting institutional stablecoin activity, while Ethereum maintains its dominance in decentralized finance applications.

Ethereum Stablecoin Market Surges to $124 Billion, Led by Tether and USD Coin

The Ethereum stablecoin market has experienced exponential growth, ballooning from a modest $124,500 in January 2018 to a staggering $124.5 billion as of May 2025. This one-million-fold increase underscores Ethereum’s dominance as the primary layer for digital dollar liquidity.

Tether (USDT) commands the market with a 52% share, totaling $64.7 billion, while USD Coin (USDC) follows at $37 billion. Emerging players like Ethena’s USDe and Sky Dollar’s USDs are gaining traction, alongside established names such as DAI and BlackRock’s BUIDL.

The rapid expansion reflects broader institutional adoption and the increasing utility of stablecoins in decentralized finance. Ethereum’s infrastructure continues to be the backbone for this growth, solidifying its position in the crypto ecosystem.