USDT Stablecoin Powers Commerce in Developing Markets Amid Currency Pressures
Tether's USDT stablecoin is increasingly being used in developing markets for commerce and savings due to currency pressures, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said. The stablecoin's adoption has grown in Venezuela, Argentina, Bolivia, and Turkey, where users rely on it for dollar-linked value.
Ardoino noted that weakening currencies, dollar shortages, inflation, and financial restrictions are driving demand for USDT. This allows users to access dollar-linked value without relying entirely on traditional banking systems.
According to Tether, the stablecoin is being used beyond crypto trading for payments, international commerce, and preserving purchasing power. In Venezuela, businesses use USDT for import and export settlements, while in Bolivia, commercial transactions increasingly involve the stablecoin due to currency pressures.
The growth of USDT adoption has been supported by independent data showing significant cryptocurrency activity across these markets. Chainalysis ranked Turkey 14th, Venezuela 18th, and Argentina 20th in its 2025 global crypto adoption index, with Latin America's cryptocurrency activity reaching nearly $1.5 trillion between July 2022 and June 2025.
However, Tether's claims do not establish that entire national economies depend on USDT, as public datasets measuring economy-wide stablecoin dependence remain limited.