Paolo Ardoino, chief executive of Tether, said on The Block’s Big Brain podcast that machine-to-machine commerce will boom over the next 15 years.
He expects one trillion autonomous AI agents to trade using USDT and Bitcoin. Ardoino spoke in a studio in New York on Wednesday, outlining how blockchain-based wallets will let software bots settle deals without human help.
AI Agents to Power Commerce
Ardoino described AI agents as software bots that act on their own. He said they will buy and sell goods or services without people in the loop. These agents will handle tasks from ordering supplies to paying for data streams.
In Ardoino’s view, they will reshape the digital economy by using stablecoins and cryptocurrencies to move value.
Role of Stablecoins and Bitcoin
The Tether CEO believes USDT and Bitcoin will form the backbone of this new system. He said stablecoins will offer predictable value for small, fast transactions.
Bitcoin will serve as a universal medium of exchange across different networks. Together, they will let machines exchange money as easily as they share data.
Non-Custodial Wallets and Tools
To support this vision, Tether launched its wallet-development kit in November. The kit lets developers build self-custodial wallets for AI agents.
Ardoino said each bot must control its own keys to avoid relying on banks. This approach would sideline legacy firms such as JPMorgan, which he thinks will not onboard millions of bots.
Decentralised AI in Everyday Devices
In a June 22 post, Ardoino wrote that AI will become “part of the fabric of the universe.” He said a lightbulb might carry a pico-local AI to adjust its energy use and light spread in real time. This tiny AI would run on the device itself, not in a data centre, and save power by adapting to conditions.
Infrastructure and Scalability
Ardoino argued that central servers cannot handle the scale of future AI. He said centralisation will choke growth and limit smart devices.
A decentralised model, with intelligence at the device level, can evolve and scale without bottlenecks. Such an approach could cut energy waste and speed up responses.
Bold Valuation and Profit Claims
Ardoino has said that Tether could reach a valuation of $2 trillion. He based this view on the company’s high profits and low overhead.
According to him, Tether earns about $13 billion in profit each year. He called it the most profitable company per employee in history. These figures underline Tether’s push to expand beyond stablecoins into AI and sports.
Tether’s AI Software Development Kit
Beyond wallets, Tether is building an open-source AI SDK on the Holepunch Bare JavaScript runtime. The platform will help create AI apps like voice assistants, translation tools, and Bitcoin wallet helpers. Ardoino views these SDKs as key to fostering a new wave of AI services anchored in crypto.
In other news, Tether has also made a splash in European football. The company bought a 10.7% stake in Juventus Football Club for about €128 million ($149 million). This move shows Tether’s interest in both sports and emerging tech. It also signals confidence in crypto’s mainstream appeal.
Ardoino’s forecast hinges on rapid growth in AI and blockchain integration. If 1 trillion agents launch wallets and trade, the digital economy could shift dramatically. Businesses would tap bots to handle routine tasks, from supply orders to subscription payments.
Also Read: Tether to Launch Serverless Password Manager Amid 16 Billion Credential Leak