a16z Calls Stablecoins the 'WhatsApp Moment' for the Financial System
”The early Internet promised a future in which anyone could publish, create, or transact without permission. Protocols like email and the web were open and neutral - and they sparked an explosion of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. But somewhere along the way, we veered off course,” the article says.
The authors compare the current financial system to a ”patchwork quilt” represented as separate corporate networks, closed and centralized. And behind every transaction there is an intermediary, and sometimes several.
”Stablecoins, or cryptocurrencies tied to stable assets like U.S. dollar, are a way out, a reboot, a way to bring the original vision of the internet to money,” the company said.
WhatsApp moment for the financial system
The a16z believes that stablecoins are an attempt to do for transactions what email has done for communication by removing barriers. Before the advent of messengers, sending text messages by phone overseas was expensive and unreliable because the recipient did not always receive it.
”Payments are now where messaging was in 2008: fragmented by borders, burdened by intermediaries, controlled by design,” the authors noted.
As a16z noted, stablecoins represent an alternative. Instead of trying to ”stitch together” legacy corporate networks, they flow on top of them. They make translations cheaper, more accessible and faster.
The company cited a $200 tranche to Colombia as an example. Sending the transfer through a bank, according to a16z, would cost $12.13, $0.01 in stablecoins.
”Just as WhatsApp has disrupted the pricing of international phone calls, blockchain-based payments and steblecoins are transforming global money transfers,” the article said.
The company also noted that the creation of a regulatory framework, obviously the U.S. is involved here, is not a barrier, but a way for stablecoins to move beyond the sandbox and onto the path of global adoption.
”For years, decentralized finance (DeFi) has been locked in a kind of closed, circular crypto-for-crypto economy. Not because the tools were useless, but because regulators made it incredibly difficult to transition into traditional financial systems. That is changing,” the authors emphasized.
The company envisions blockchain technology as ”public highways,” the natural layer of the Internet. Private companies can build their cars, businesses or roadside infrastructure, but the highways themselves will remain open to everyone.
Apart from the main advantages of reduced commissions and increased speed, stablecoins have a number of other pluses, the article says. These include commission-free global trading, payments between AI agents, programmable deductions and full transparency.
”Just as early Internet startups were able to thrive when it became clear they wouldn't be shut down by telecom companies or copyright lawyers, cryptocurrency is poised to bridge the chasm from financial experiment to infrastructure backbone, and stablecoins are leading the way,” the authors summarized.
Tether CEO announces the beginning of the era of stablecoins
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether — issuer of the USDT stablecoin — has announced the start of a new era called the ”multiverse of steiblcoins”.
He noted that hundreds of companies and governments have launched or will soon launch their own ”stable coins.” In addition, Ardoino said the number of USDT users is more than 400 million users worldwide. Soon - 1 billion, the Tether CEO added.
Tether's CEO says the company has ”been through hell”
Tether has ”been through hell” as it faces scrutiny from US authorities. This is reported by CoinDesk, citing the firm's CEO Paolo Ardoino.
The head of Tether took part in the Cantor Fitzgerald Global Technology Conference. It was held on March 11 and 12, 2025 in New York City.
Ardoino noted that this was his first trip to the United States. However, he was allegedly dissuaded from it because of the scrutiny of the authorities:
”There were people who said I would be arrested if I came to the United States. But we're still here, right?”
Tether's CEO noted the warm welcome. He said he was happy to be in the U.S. and emphasized the company's close ties to this market;
Notably, despite the fact that Tether is one of the largest corporate holders of US Treasury bonds and its stablecoin — USDT — is pegged to the dollar, the firm is not registered in America. Its headquarters are located in El Salvador.
This is one of the reasons for criticism of the organization. Thus, in particular, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire said, although not mentioning the competitor directly, that issuers of dollar-stablecoins should register in the United States;
As part of the conference, Ardoino also touched on the company's plans. According to him, the firm will focus on three areas in 2025: real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, education and AI.
a16z Calls Stablecoins the 'WhatsApp Moment' for the Financial System
”The early Internet promised a future in which anyone could publish, create, or transact without permission. Protocols like email and the web were open and neutral - and they sparked an explosion of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. But somewhere along the way, we veered off course,” the article says.
The authors compare the current financial system to a ”patchwork quilt” represented as separate corporate networks, closed and centralized. And behind every transaction there is an intermediary, and sometimes several.
”Stablecoins, or cryptocurrencies tied to stable assets like U.S. dollar, are a way out, a reboot, a way to bring the original vision of the internet to money,” the company said.
WhatsApp moment for the financial system
The a16z believes that stablecoins are an attempt to do for transactions what email has done for communication by removing barriers. Before the advent of messengers, sending text messages by phone overseas was expensive and unreliable because the recipient did not always receive it.
”Payments are now where messaging was in 2008: fragmented by borders, burdened by intermediaries, controlled by design,” the authors noted.
As a16z noted, stablecoins represent an alternative. Instead of trying to ”stitch together” legacy corporate networks, they flow on top of them. They make translations cheaper, more accessible and faster.
The company cited a $200 tranche to Colombia as an example. Sending the transfer through a bank, according to a16z, would cost $12.13, $0.01 in stablecoins.
”Just as WhatsApp has disrupted the pricing of international phone calls, blockchain-based payments and steblecoins are transforming global money transfers,” the article said.
The company also noted that the creation of a regulatory framework, obviously the U.S. is involved here, is not a barrier, but a way for stablecoins to move beyond the sandbox and onto the path of global adoption.
”For years, decentralized finance (DeFi) has been locked in a kind of closed, circular crypto-for-crypto economy. Not because the tools were useless, but because regulators made it incredibly difficult to transition into traditional financial systems. That is changing,” the authors emphasized.
The company envisions blockchain technology as ”public highways,” the natural layer of the Internet. Private companies can build their cars, businesses or roadside infrastructure, but the highways themselves will remain open to everyone.
Apart from the main advantages of reduced commissions and increased speed, stablecoins have a number of other pluses, the article says. These include commission-free global trading, payments between AI agents, programmable deductions and full transparency.
”Just as early Internet startups were able to thrive when it became clear they wouldn't be shut down by telecom companies or copyright lawyers, cryptocurrency is poised to bridge the chasm from financial experiment to infrastructure backbone, and stablecoins are leading the way,” the authors summarized.
Tether CEO announces the beginning of the era of stablecoins
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether — issuer of the USDT stablecoin — has announced the start of a new era called the ”multiverse of steiblcoins”.
He noted that hundreds of companies and governments have launched or will soon launch their own ”stable coins.” In addition, Ardoino said the number of USDT users is more than 400 million users worldwide. Soon - 1 billion, the Tether CEO added.
Tether's CEO says the company has ”been through hell”
Tether has ”been through hell” as it faces scrutiny from US authorities. This is reported by CoinDesk, citing the firm's CEO Paolo Ardoino.
The head of Tether took part in the Cantor Fitzgerald Global Technology Conference. It was held on March 11 and 12, 2025 in New York City.
Ardoino noted that this was his first trip to the United States. However, he was allegedly dissuaded from it because of the scrutiny of the authorities:
”There were people who said I would be arrested if I came to the United States. But we're still here, right?”
Tether's CEO noted the warm welcome. He said he was happy to be in the U.S. and emphasized the company's close ties to this market;
Notably, despite the fact that Tether is one of the largest corporate holders of US Treasury bonds and its stablecoin — USDT — is pegged to the dollar, the firm is not registered in America. Its headquarters are located in El Salvador.
This is one of the reasons for criticism of the organization. Thus, in particular, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire said, although not mentioning the competitor directly, that issuers of dollar-stablecoins should register in the United States;
As part of the conference, Ardoino also touched on the company's plans. According to him, the firm will focus on three areas in 2025: real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, education and AI.