Tether Appoints Ex-Google Executive Benjamin Habbel as New Chief Business Officer in Strategic Power Move
Tether just poached top Silicon Valley talent—and the stablecoin giant isn't playing defense.
Benjamin Habbel, former Google executive, takes the reins as Chief Business Officer amid Tether's aggressive expansion beyond mere dollar-pegged tokens. The move signals a fundamental shift from crypto's most controversial company to a diversified tech powerhouse.
Why This Hire Matters
Habbel brings Google-scale operational expertise to a company that's already processing more daily volume than most traditional payment processors. Tether's hiring pattern reveals ambitious infrastructure plays—from energy investments to blockchain interoperability solutions.
The Cynical Take
Because nothing says 'legitimacy' like hiring ex-Big Tech executives to sanitize a operation that traditional finance still views as the wild west. But let's be real—when you're sitting on $100B+ in reserves, you can afford the best window dressing money can buy.
This isn't just a personnel change. It's Tether loading ammunition for the next phase of crypto's war against traditional finance—and they're aiming for the crown jewels.
From stablecoin dominance to diversified bets
According to the announcement, will be directly involved with portfolio companies spanning artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and Bitcoin mining. In this sector, Tether is a dominant force, holding 92,646.2 BTC, valued at approximately $10.47 billion, according to Bitbo data.
Habbel’s role extends to neurotech, real estate, and cloud computing, underscoring Tether’s appetite for new opportunities. He brings a hybrid of Silicon Valley scaling expertise and Wall Street financial discipline. His career includes pivotal leadership roles during the expansion of Google’s Core products like Android and Google Maps, an effort that earned him the company’s prestigious OC Award for innovation.
Following Google, he founded and led software ventures to successful exits before spending nearly a decade as CEO of Limestone Capital, where he grew the alternative asset manager into a global platform overseeing $1 billion in assets.
Habbel’s appointment signals a critical maturation for Tether, positioning a seasoned operator at the helm of a financial engine of unprecedented scale. This MOVE comes as the firm, buoyed by the dominance of its $172 billion USDT stablecoin and quarterly profits measured in the billions, reportedly explores a landmark $20 billion capital raise targeting a $500 billion valuation.
Building on ongoing momentum
Notably, Habbel joins Tether after the company made another high-profile hire last month. On August 19, the USDT issuer brought on Bo Hines, the former Executive Director of the White House crypto Council, as a Strategic Advisor for U.S. strategy.
These executive moves mirror the scale of Tether’s recent investments, which have aggressively moved beyond digital assets. The company has made waves with a controlling 70% stake in Adecoagro, a sustainable agriculture giant, and a substantial investment in Elemental Altus, a Gold royalty company.
Further diversifying its holdings, Tether has also taken strategic positions in media entities such as Be Water and Rumble, as well as in brain-computer interface firm Blackrock Neurotech.
