BTC223: Tether's 13.7 Billion in Profits w/ Paolo Ardoino (Bitcoin Podcast)

In this episode, Preston and Paolo discuss Tether’s massive $13.7 billion profit, its growing strategic importance, and whether Wall Street banks will enter the stablecoin space. They also explore Tether’s expansion into AI, real estate, and Brain-Computer Interfaces, alongside its big move to El Salvador. They also discuss what running Tether on Lightning means for payments and the future of tokenized assets in the UAE. IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 00:00 - Intro 03:05 - How Tether achieved $13.7 billion in profits last year. 07:14 - Why Wall Street banks might try to compete in the stablecoin space. 13:11 - The impact of running Tether on the Lightning Network via TAP. 20:07 - Challenges and opportunities in Lightning Network routing. 22:04 - The future of tokenized equity in the UAE and global accessibility. 30:18 - Tether’s massive move to El Salvador and its 70-story building project. 33:32 - How Tether is expanding into AI with DeepSeek and open-source solutions. 35:11 - The role of Reelly Tech in real estate transactions. 41:25 - Why Tether invested $200M in Blackrock Neurotech and its AI SDK strategy. 47:15 - How all these moves fit into Tether’s long-term vision. Disclaimer: Slight discrepancies in the timestamps may occur due to podcast platform differences. BOOKS AND RESOURCES Article on How Tether Achieved $13.7 Billion in Profits Last Year. Article on Tether on the Lightning Network.  Article on Tether’s move to El Salvador.  Paolo’s X Account. Check out all the books mentioned and discussed in our podcast episodes here. Enjoy ad-free episodes when you subscribe to our Premium Feed. NEW TO THE SHOW? Join the exclusive TIP Mastermind Community to engage in meaningful stock investing discussions with Stig, Clay, Kyle, and the other community members. Follow our official social media accounts: X (Twitter) | LinkedIn | | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok. Check out our Bitcoin Fundamentals Starter Packs. Browse through all our episodes (complete with transcripts) here. Try our tool for picking stock winners and managing our portfolios: TIP Finance Tool. Enjoy exclusive perks from our favorite Apps and Services. Get smarter about valuing businesses in just a few minutes each week through our newsletter, The Intrinsic Value Newsletter. Learn how to better start, manage, and grow your business with the best business podcasts. SPONSORS Support our free podcast by supporting our sponsors: Hardblock SimpleMining Unchained Netsuite Found Fintool The Bitcoin Way Shopify Vanta Onramp TurboTax PrizePicks Fundrise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://theinvestorspodcastnetwork.supportingcast.fm