TLDRs;
- Tether appoints ex-Google executive Benjamin Habbel as Chief Business Officer to expand investments beyond digital assets.
- Habbel will oversee growth strategy, finance, and portfolio development while supporting Tether’s global expansion.
- The appointment follows Tether’s $200M investment in Blackrock Neurotech and hiring of U.S. policy advisor Bo Hines.
- Moves signal Tether’s push to diversify, strengthen leadership, and address regulatory scrutiny while maintaining stablecoin dominance.
Tether, the company behind the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has appointed Benjamin Habbel, a former Google executive and private equity leader, as its new Chief Business Officer (CBO).
The move signals the company’s intention to diversify its portfolio and establish a stronger foothold beyond its digital asset dominance.
Habbel previously led Limestone Capital, a private equity firm, and held senior management positions at Google. With experience in both technology and finance, his appointment is expected to strengthen Tether’s ongoing strategy of branching into industries such as artificial intelligence, telecommunications, bitcoin mining, energy, cloud computing, and real estate.
A Strategic Appointment
According to Tether, Habbel will be responsible for growth strategy, finance, investment, and portfolio development. His leadership comes at a time when the company is expanding aggressively, not only within cryptocurrency but also across industries shaping the global economy.
“With Benjamin’s leadership and expertise, I’m confident we’ll continue to strengthen this foundation and accelerate Tether’s evolution into a global technology and financial leader – one capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the legacy giants we aim to disrupt,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether.
The company, headquartered in El Salvador, currently holds a market capitalization of about $173 billion through its USDT stablecoin, according to CoinGecko. However, recent investments show that Tether is increasingly interested in building a diversified portfolio that leverages both traditional finance and frontier technologies.
In 2024, the company made headlines with a $200 million majority stake acquisition in Blackrock Neurotech, a US-based brain implant firm. That move underscored Tether’s willingness to fund cutting-edge technology ventures with potential long-term impact.
Strengthening Leadership with Global Talent
Habbel’s appointment follows another significant leadership move last month, when Tether hired Bo Hines, former executive director of the White House Crypto Council under the Trump administration, as a strategic adviser for U.S. operations.
While Habbel’s role focuses on business expansion and diversification, Hines’ advisory role is aimed at navigating regulatory challenges in the U.S. market, particularly in light of the GENIUS Act, new legislation governing stablecoins.
Together, these appointments reflect Tether’s dual-track approach of expanding its investment and business portfolio while proactively managing regulatory expectations.
Market Leader Under Scrutiny
Despite its dominant market share, controlling nearly 70% of the global stablecoin market, Tether has faced years of scrutiny over its reserve transparency and regulatory compliance. In 2021, the company paid a $41 million fine for misleading users about its asset backing.
The new hires suggest that Tether is moving toward greater accountability and professional leadership, taking lessons from competitors like Circle, which has earned a reputation for regulatory compliance and institutional trust.
By onboarding experienced leaders like Habbel and Hines, Tether aims to reinforce its market dominance while broadening its global investments. This strategy may help the company navigate both rapidly changing regulations and an increasingly competitive stablecoin market.
Looking Ahead
As Tether evolves from a crypto-first company to a multi-sector investor and technology leader, Habbel’s role will be central to executing this vision. His combined background in big tech and private equity positions him to bridge the gap between digital assets and mainstream finance.
With a growing portfolio spanning energy, real estate, and frontier tech, Tether appears committed to redefining itself not just as a stablecoin issuer, but as a global investment powerhouse.
