In the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency, big moves from major players can shake things up for everyone, including the wild realm of meme tokens. Recently, a tweet from MartyParty highlighted some exciting developments: SoftBank Group and ARK Investment Management are reportedly in early talks to join a huge funding round for Tether, the company behind USDT—the world's biggest stablecoin.

For those new to this, Tether's USDT is a stablecoin, meaning it's designed to hold a steady value pegged to the US dollar. It's hugely popular for trading because it lets people move money quickly without the volatility of other cryptos. Right now, USDT has a market cap over $170 billion, controlling about 70% of the stablecoin market. That's massive!

According to the report from Bloomberg, Tether is looking to raise between $15 and $20 billion in this private round, which would snag investors a 3-4% stake. If that goes through, it could value Tether at a whopping $500 billion, putting it among the largest private companies on the planet.

Why This Matters for Meme Tokens

Meme tokens, those fun, community-driven cryptos often inspired by internet jokes or trends, rely heavily on stablecoins like USDT for liquidity and trading on platforms like DEXs (decentralized exchanges). A stronger, more expansive Tether could mean more stability and capital flowing into the crypto space, potentially fueling the next big meme coin pump.

Tether isn't just sticking to stablecoins anymore. The funding would help them dive deeper into areas like AI (artificial intelligence), Bitcoin mining, renewable energy, and tokenized assets—think turning real-world things like stocks or real estate into digital tokens on the blockchain. This diversification could create new opportunities for meme projects that tie into these tech trends.

The Big Investors Involved

Let's break down the key players:

• SoftBank Group: This Japanese tech powerhouse, led by Masayoshi Son, is no stranger to bold bets. They've backed giants like Arm (a chip designer) and ByteDance (TikTok's parent). In crypto, SoftBank has been ramping up: They set up a $3 billion Bitcoin treasury earlier this year and poured $900 million in BTC into "Twenty One," a Bitcoin-native company launched in April 2025 alongside partners like Cantor Fitzgerald. Tether even chipped in $1.5 billion in Bitcoin to that venture.

• ARK Investment Management: Run by Cathie Wood, ARK focuses on disruptive innovations—think Tesla for electric cars or Coinbase for crypto exchanges. They see Tether as a crucial link between traditional finance (TradFi) and the decentralized world of crypto. ARK hasn't commented yet, but their involvement signals strong belief in Tether's growth potential.

What's Next?

This is still early-stage stuff, so nothing's set in stone. But if it happens, it could supercharge Tether's ambitions and ripple through the entire blockchain ecosystem. For meme token enthusiasts, keep an eye on how this might stabilize markets or open doors to new integrations—like meme coins backed by tokenized assets or powered by AI.

Stay tuned to Meme Insider for more updates on how traditional investors are eyeing crypto plays. If you're trading memes, remember: USDT is often your gateway, so Tether's success could be yours too!

For the original tweet, check it out here.