Tether said it's investing $200mn in Whop, valuing the online marketplace at $1.6bn and marking one of its largest bets on a consumer-facing platform.
Tether Eyes Creator Cash Flow with $200mn Whop Investment
25 February 2026 - 22:16 CET
By Ana Pereira
The deal ties the world’s largest stablecoin issuer to a digital marketplace where creators sell memberships, software, trading communities and subscription products. Whop says it supports more than 18mn users across 144 countries and facilitates roughly $3bn in annual payouts to sellers, primarily through traditional payment rails, according to a joint statement with Tether Investments.
Use of Tether's stablecoins
Under the partnership, Whop will allow users to transact using Tether-issued stablecoins, including USDt and USAt. The companies said the goal is to reduce reliance on traditional card networks and bank transfers, especially for cross-border transactions.
Founded as a hub for online entrepreneurs, Whop's digital activity centers on digital-native businesses operating across borders, including software sellers and subscription-based communities.
"The way humans work and create value is changing fast," Steven Schwartz, Whop CEO and co-founder, said on X. "The world needs both an open internet market giving people a platform to conduct business, as well as a transparent payments network."
Profits fuel expansion
Tether enters the deal from a position of financial strength. In January, the company reported full-year profit of $10bn and $6.3bn in excess reserves, largely driven by interest from US Treasury securities held as reserves backing its stablecoins. Its total issued stablecoins tracking the US dollar exceed $180bn, Tether said in the statement about the Whop deal.
Those profits have enabled Tether to expand its investment arm, which deploys capital from excess reserves into infrastructure, energy, financial services and technology ventures.
Over the past two years, Tether has taken stakes in companies spanning Bitcoin mining, renewable energy, AI infrastructure and financial services. The Whop transaction is part of this trend and expands its reach into the creator economy, which Goldman Sachs estimates could reach $480bn by 2027.
Tether has previously made consumer-facing bets, including a $775mn investment in video platform Rumble closed in early 2025, backing the YouTube alternative and signalling willingness to place capital in digital, retail-driven platforms.
