Tether (USDT) CEO Paolo Ardoino Dismisses S&P Rating, Declares USDT an Overcapitalized, Non-Toxic Asset Defying Traditional Finance

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino responded to S&P‘s newest rating on November 27, telling COINOTAG News that he “takes pride in being despised by you.” Ardoino argued that traditional credit-rating models have long steered investors toward risk while signaling doubts about the independence of global regulators over the rating framework, a critique of the inertia in conventional finance amidst the crypto era.

He asserted that the crypto credit narrative is evolving, citing Tether as evidence of an overcapitalized, non-toxic asset with sustained profitability that challenges the prevailing idea of an automatic investment-grade label. The executive framed the old-system critique as an emperor’s clothes moment, suggesting that crypto‑native governance can coexist with tighter risk controls within a modern market structure.

Market observers will monitor how these remarks influence regulatory dialogue and transparency standards for stablecoins, as investors weigh capital adequacy and disclosure norms in crypto markets.