Tether Could Be Closest Crypto to Rival OpenAI’s $500 Billion Valuation, Estimates Suggest

• Tether valuation estimate: ~$515 billion if public, per Artemis CEO Jon Ma.

• Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino calls that estimate “a bit bearish” while noting substantial Bitcoin and gold reserves.

• Over 70% of stablecoin transactions in Q3 2025 were linked to bot activity, highlighting AI-stablecoin synergies (CEX.io Research).

Tether valuation: Could Tether rival OpenAI’s $500B? Read expert reaction, market-cap comparisons, and implications for AI and stablecoins.

What does OpenAI’s $500 billion valuation mean for crypto companies?

OpenAI’s $500 billion valuation—driven by a $6.6 billion secondary sale by current and former employees to investors including Thrive Capital, SoftBank Group Corp, Dragoneer Investment Group, Abu Dhabi’s MGX and T. Rowe Price—reframes market comparisons. It highlights the scale gap between top AI startups and the largest crypto firms, while accelerating talk of AI and blockchain convergence.

How close is Tether to matching OpenAI’s market cap?

At present, public market capitalizations place major crypto firms well below OpenAI’s valuation. Google Finance shows Coinbase around $89 billion. Industry commentary now points to stablecoins—specifically Tether—as the closest private candidate to challenge a $500 billion benchmark if it were public. An estimate from Artemis’s CEO Jon Ma put a potential Tether IPO valuation at about $515 billion. Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO, called $515 billion “a beautiful number” but “a bit bearish,” citing Tether’s Bitcoin and gold treasury and stating there is no need to go public.

How are AI and stablecoins becoming interconnected?

AI and stablecoins are converging as both underpin next-generation digital infrastructure. Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz said AI agents will be the biggest users of stablecoins. Research firm CEX.io Research reported that over 70% of stablecoin transactions in Q3 2025 were linked to bot activity, suggesting programmatic demand for stable-value rails.

Source: Paolo Ardoino

Why do some industry leaders expect AI to drive stablecoin demand?

AI agents require low-friction, programmatic settlement for high-frequency operations. Stablecoins offer predictable value and fast transfer times, making them attractive for automated agents and infrastructure providers. Institutional moves—such as Galaxy Digital securing a $1.4 billion loan to develop the Texas Helios AI datacenter—also show capital flows into firms that sit at the intersection of AI compute and crypto payment rails.

What risks are associated with rapid AI growth?

Several industry voices warn about AI’s energy and safety implications. Akash founder Greg Osuri said, at Token2049 in Singapore, that AI’s power needs may outstrip current grids and suggested nuclear power or decentralized training as solutions. Osuri warned that AI’s expansion could have severe human costs without sustainable approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Could Tether’s reserves justify a $515 billion valuation?

Tether’s reserves—publicly discussed holdings of Bitcoin and gold—are cited by executives as key valuation components. An industry figure estimated a $515 billion market cap if Tether listed, but without an IPO prospectus that valuation remains theoretical.

How will bot-linked stablecoin activity affect markets?

High bot-linked stablecoin activity (over 70% of transactions in Q3 2025 per CEX.io Research) increases short-term liquidity and programmatic demand, but also raises monitoring and compliance priorities for exchanges and regulators.

Key Takeaways

• Tether valuation momentum: A public Tether could be valued near $515B per one estimate, making it comparable to OpenAI’s $500B.
• AI-stablecoin synergy: AI agents and bots are already major users of stablecoins, driving transactional demand.
• Policy and infrastructure impact: Rising AI compute needs and bot activity increase focus on energy, compliance, and the role of stablecoins in financial infrastructure.

Conclusion

OpenAI’s $500 billion valuation reframes how the market compares large private tech firms and crypto issuers. Tether valuation estimates place it within striking distance of major AI startups if it ever listed, but company leadership currently rejects the need to IPO. The growing overlap between AI agents and stablecoins suggests structural shifts in digital payments and infrastructure, meriting close monitoring by investors, technologists and regulators.