On May 5, 2025, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino officially announced Tether AI, a groundbreaking open-source AI runtime designed to evolve across any device and hardware infrastructure.
The aim? To enable an unstoppable peer-to-peer intelligence network, where billions of AI agents can operate independently, exchange value via Bitcoin and USDT, and reshape the foundations of AI itself.
“Our technology will be open-source, transparent, scalable, and capable of evolving on any device—independent of the hardware.”
— Paolo Ardoino, via X
No API Keys, No Central Control
In a clear departure from centralized AI platforms reliant on cloud APIs, Tether AI will not require any API keys or central authentication systems.
Instead, the network will run on a modular, composable runtime, with no single point of failure and complete adaptability. This ensures resilience, censorship resistance, and self-sovereignty—values at the heart of crypto-native infrastructure.
“No API keys, no central point of failure. Fully modular and composable.”
— Paolo Ardoino
Crypto-Native Payments at the Core
At its core, Tether AI is designed to integrate Bitcoin and USDT payments through its Wallet Development Kit (WDK). This will enable AI agents to interact economically—sending and receiving crypto value without intermediaries, wallets, or APIs.
Whether for microservices, machine economies, or smart contracts, Tether AI’s financial layer could transform how autonomous systems transact.
From Sci-Fi to Reality: Asimov as Inspiration
In a separate post, Ardoino pointed to the work of Isaac Asimov as inspiration behind the project—specifically the vision of AI as an integral, ambient force shaping the future of human civilization.
Tether AI aims to become that foundation: scalable, self-evolving, and deeply embedded in the digital universe.
“AI will become part of the fabric of the universe in the coming decades.”
— Paolo Ardoino
Final Thoughts: Tether Is Rewriting the AI Playbook
With Tether AI, the stablecoin giant isn’t just entering the AI race—it’s trying to redefine the rules entirely.A permissionless, peer-to-peer network of intelligent agents operating with native crypto payments would shift the AI landscape from corporate silos to open ecosystems. If it delivers on its promises, Tether AI could be the missing link between Web3 and artificial general intelligence.
