17-7-2025 – Tether has minted $3 billion in new USDT tokens over the past 24 hours, pushing the stablecoin’s market capitalization beyond $160 billion for the first time as regulatory momentum builds around the pending GENIUS Act.

The massive token issuance comes as Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino celebrated the $160 billion milestone as a “new mind-blowing milestone” that demonstrates USDT’s expanding role as a digital dollar substitute across emerging markets. The stablecoin has experienced explosive growth, with USDt used by more than 400 million people worldwide, expanding by 35 million wallets each quarter.

Tether’s latest minting activity coincides with heightened regulatory clarity in Washington. The Senate passed the landmark GENIUS Act stablecoin bill with a 68-30 vote in June, establishing the first comprehensive federal framework for stablecoin regulation. The House is expected to vote on the legislation during “Crypto Week” as part of the Trump administration’s push to clarify digital asset rules.

The regulatory backdrop has intensified competition in the stablecoin space, with Ripple’s upcoming RLUSD token positioned to benefit from the new compliance framework. Tether holds over $127 billion in US Treasurys as of Q2 2025, ranking as the 18th largest holder globally, providing substantial backing for its growing token supply.

Network distribution shows Tron hosts the highest USDt supply at about $81 billion, compared to Ethereum’s $65 billion, reflecting the stablecoin’s migration toward more cost-effective blockchain platforms preferred by emerging market users.

Watch for House voting developments on the GENIUS Act and potential market reactions as traditional finance players including JPMorgan and Citigroup explore stablecoin market entry amid the clearer regulatory landscape.