Tether, the company behind the world’s most dominant stablecoin, has announced a major $200 million strategic investment into the digital marketplace Whop, valuing the startup at $1.6 billion. According to Whop CEO Steven Schwartz, this deal is designed to accelerate the adoption of stablecoin payments within the creator economy. Whop has rapidly emerged as a powerhouse for digital entrepreneurs, providing a platform where 18.4 million users buy and sell access to software, trading communities, and educational courses. The marketplace currently processes approximately $3 billion in annual earnings for its participants and reports a monthly growth rate of 25% in transaction volume.
As a core component of this partnership, Whop will integrate Tether’s specialized wallet tools directly into its infrastructure. This integration allows both creators and customers to hold and transact using USDT and the U.S.-focused USAT stablecoin without leaving the platform. By moving away from traditional banking and credit card networks, creators can settle their earnings globally and instantly, avoiding the friction and high fees often associated with legacy financial systems. This move effectively turns Whop into a bankless financial hub for the next generation of internet-based businesses.
The capital infusion is earmarked for aggressive global expansion, specifically targeting high-growth regions such as Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Beyond simple payments, the two companies plan to introduce lending and borrowing features powered by decentralized finance infrastructure, further blurring the line between social commerce and advanced fintech. For Tether, which currently boasts a market capitalization of $185 billion for its flagship USDT token, this investment represents a calculated move to embed its digital dollar deeper into everyday online commerce and consumer-facing applications.
