Tether has lowered its fundraising target from $20 billion to $5 billion.

On February 4th, according to the Financial Times, stablecoin issuer Tether has lowered its fundraising target from $15-20 billion to $5 billion, citing investor skepticism about its $500 billion valuation target. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated in an interview that the $15-20 billion fundraising target was a "misunderstanding," and that it was simply the maximum amount they were willing to sell, not a target. He emphasized that the company is highly profitable and "very satisfied" even without selling equity. Ardoino also compared Tether to artificial intelligence companies, saying, "AI companies generate the same amount of profit as us, just with a negative sign." Tether's profit last year was approximately $10 billion, primarily from returns on its asset holdings, but profits in 2025 are projected to decline by about 25% year-on-year. Previously, it was reported that in September 2025, Tether sought to raise up to $20 billion at a $500 billion valuation.