In the Context of Speculations Regarding Tether’s Potential Exit from the US, the Company’s CEO Suggests a Large-Scale Project in Africa

In two X posts published on March 2 and March 3, respectively, Tether CEO Paolo Ardonio shared his plan for addressing the electricity shortage in Africa. What is his plan, and why does Africa hold particular significance for Tether?

**Ardonio’s Announcement**
On March 2, 2025, Ardonio took to X to discuss his vision for tackling the power crisis in Africa. He stated that 600 million Africans lack access to electricity and outlined a potential solution.
Ardonio suggested that a “plan is underway.” He envisions a network of kiosks equipped with high-performance batteries and eco-friendly solar panels. Individuals would be required to purchase a monthly subscription to recharge the batteries using these kiosks, with payment options including local currency, Bitcoin, or USDT. The kiosks would provide electricity to the local communities.
The network is set to be implemented in at least two phases, beginning with the establishment of ten thousand charging locations in the first stage. The second stage aims to increase the number of locations to 100,000.
In addition to supplying residents with electric power, the kiosks will also offer high-quality educational materials and courses on Bitcoin and saving in Tether. Furthermore, Ardonio highlighted “the biggest distribution network for any goods and services.”
On March 3, Tether CEO added that the described plan “is not a hypothetical,” and that “a few hundred kiosks are up and running.” In the comments section, Ardonio noted that after Tether establishes power generation, it will focus on infrastructure.

**Reactions**
The announcement elicited a wide range of reactions, from skepticism to full approval. For instance, Blockstream CEO Adam Back expressed a willingness to broadcast his company’s educational materials about Bitcoin through these kiosks. Several commenters pointed out potential issues with the initiative or questioned Tether’s role in such an endeavor.
One commenter, Mutasco, remarked that the spirit of decentralization is better aligned with creating a framework that would incentivize various independent actors to build such kiosks, rather than having the company itself construct the entire network. He suggested that the Tether Foundation could have developed the framework. “This balances autonomy with centralized support that creates alignment with the ethos of building a community-owned network,” said Mutasco.
Another commenter, known as Crouching Tiger Hidden Whale, questioned whether residents would be able to afford the subscription. Furthermore, Crouching Tiger expressed concerns regarding the safety of Tether’s initiative, suggesting that locals could potentially “hijack” the kiosks to use battery rechargers without payment. In response to these concerns, Ardonio stated that several hundred locations are already operational and that “so far so good.”
Representatives from telecom companies appeared in the comments to praise the initiative and promote their services, emphasizing the importance of connectivity. One stated that in 2019, he and his partners installed two air nodes in a small remote fishing village in Tanzania, which proved highly effective, as the village has since tripled in size, providing residents with a greater sense of safety and more opportunities for selling fish.

**Tether in Africa and America**
It is noteworthy that Tether has consistently emphasized its role in Africa and other regions where individuals lack access to banking and tools for saving money in stable currencies. The company’s website directly highlights Africa, South, and Central America as regions where Tether “empowers millions,” protecting families “from the spiraling devaluation of their local currencies.”
The use of USDT has significantly increased in Africa since 2022. Bloomberg cites Tether’s Head of Economics, Philip Gradwell, who states that the primary use cases for Tether in Africa revolve around value preservation and remittances.
Facilitating financial opportunities in developing countries aligns with a broader mission of extending the influence of the American dollar in these regions. Tether is one of the world’s largest purchasers of U.S. Treasury bills, thus emphasizing its role in reducing U.S. debt and stimulating the American economy.
This situation is particularly relevant today as the company faces heightened scrutiny in the U.S. While the new crypto-friendly SEC continues to dismiss one case from the Gensler era after another, Tether finds itself in a much more contentious position than before 2025. The new GENIUS Act, aimed at regulating stablecoins, demands greater transparency from Tether, a company that has never undergone audits by the “Big Four” accounting firms. Some experts believe that Tether may struggle to comply with the new regulations and could be forced to exit the U.S. market.
The U.S. Treasury is considering sanctions against Tether for providing services to sanctioned nations such as Russia and Iran, as well as the terrorist organization Hamas. Another concern involves Tether’s alleged funding of North Korea’s nuclear program. In October 2024, the Wall Street Journal reported that federal prosecutors are investigating possible violations of sanctions and anti-money laundering laws. The January 2024 UN report indicates that Tether is one of the preferred cryptocurrencies for illegal activities and money laundering. The report cites $17.07 billion as the total amount of USDT spent on illicit activities between September 2022 and September 2023, a figure that, while not a large percentage of Tether’s overall volume, provides a strong rationale for intensified scrutiny and potential prosecution.
In light of a possible exit from the U.S. market, increasing its influence in other regions and shifting focus from USD-pegged stablecoins to Bitcoin may emerge as an effective recovery strategy for Tether.