Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, has disclosed some of the company’s latest investments across diverse sectors including Bitcoin mining, traditional finance (TradFi), and payments for commodity transactions.

In a discussion at the Emergence Conference held in Prague on December 5, Ardoino shared that Tether (USDT) has generated over $13 billion in profits. Currently, Tether boasts a market capitalization exceeding $135 billion and possesses more than $6 billion in surplus equity. These resources are utilized to enhance Tether’s expanding stablecoin investment portfolio.

“When the stable coin and its investments operate outside the preservers, they function from a distinct perspective, under a separate entity named Tether Investments, which invests in various sectors,” Ardoino noted.

One significant focus area for Tether is Bitcoin (BTC) mining. Ardoino explained that both he and the Tether team are “enthusiastic advocates” for Bitcoin mining and are eager to engage in safeguarding Bitcoin’s limited supply to prevent excessive decentralization. He acknowledged that Tether has invested in Bitcoin mining operations in smaller nations, particularly in Central and South America.

“With Bitcoin, we cannot depend on just a handful of companies controlling 90% of the mining. It’s essential to involve additional players globally to ensure Bitcoin’s security. This is one of our core investments,” Ardoino stated.

Tether is also keen on exploring the realms of TradFi and cryptocurrency trading. Ardoino mentioned that Tether has embarked on several partnerships within the traditional finance space and has served as “a short-term lender” for various initiatives.

Furthermore, Ardoino noted that Tether is investigating the application of USDT for cross-border payments, particularly in the commodity trading sector. He anticipates that stablecoins could revolutionize commodity trade by greatly simplifying the payment procedure.

In contrast to conventional credit transfers, which typically require significant time, USDT transactions occur much more swiftly through the blockchain, with confirmations happening within seconds.

“This is one of the areas where we plan to allocate substantial resources, as we see USDT having the potential to be a game-changer,” Ardoino remarked.

Additionally, Tether is investing in a variety of “small companies worldwide,” Ardoino mentioned, many of which are situated in developing countries within emerging markets. Ongoing investments include partnerships with Blackrock Neurotech, a brain-computer interface technology firm, and AI infrastructure company Northern Data Group.