Tether Investments has taken a strategic stake in online marketplace Whop, in a deal Whop’s co-founder says totals 200 million USD and values the company at 1.6 billion USD. The investment, announced on 25 February 2026, centers on integrating Tether’s Wallet Development Kit to enable self-custodial USD₮ payments for Whop’s millions of users.
Company Overview
Whop operates as an internet market and financial technology platform where individuals and businesses create, sell, and manage digital products and services from a single interface. The company reports more than 18.4 million users, approximately 3 billion USD in annual payouts, and operations across 144 countries.
It targets creators and small businesses monetizing communities and software, combining storefront tools, payments, and engagement features. Earlier profiles frame Whop as part of the creator economy, competing with social platforms for audience monetization.
Investment Details
Tether Investments characterizes the deal as a strategic investment to extend stablecoin infrastructure into everyday economic activity. The press release omits financial terms, but Whop CEO Steven Schwartz states on X that Tether invested 200 million USD at a 1.6 billion USD valuation.
Whop will integrate Tether’s open-source Wallet Development Kit to support self-custodial wallets for Bitcoin, Lightning, USD₮, XAU₮, and USA₮, with on-chain settlement and DeFi features like lending.
Investor Strategy
Tether Investments, based in El Salvador, reinvests Tether’s profits into sectors like AI, financial services, energy, and digital media where stablecoins can add utility. The Whop deal diversifies Tether beyond on-chain protocols into user-facing platforms with scale, including Whop’s reported 25 percent month-over-month gross transaction volume growth.
Use of Funds
The capital supports international expansion into Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, alongside new financial infrastructure and AI tools for “agentic” income opportunities. Product plans include self-custodial wallets for stablecoin payments alongside fiat methods, emphasizing faster settlement.
Funding History
| Year | Round | Amount (USD) | Valuation | Key Investors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Series A | 17M | ~100M | Growth VC, angels |
| 2024 | Series B | >50M | ~800M | Major VC |
| 2026 | Strategic | 200M | 1.6B | Tether Investments |
Whop had raised at least 67 million USD before this deal, per prior disclosures.
Market Context
The transaction bridges creator economy platforms and stablecoin rails, testing self-custodial wallets beyond trading. Tether gains distribution to Whop’s user base, while Whop accesses Tether’s 180 billion USD liquidity pool reaching 530 million users.
Stablecoin investments into consumer platforms reflect selective venture interest amid tighter crypto funding.
Outlook
Execution will determine if Whop scales WDK wallets without user friction or regulatory hurdles in target markets.
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