Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino at DAS.SV 2025: El Salvador Sets Global Standard for Crypto Regulation

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino Highlights El Salvador’s Leadership in Digital Asset Innovation at DAS.SV 2025

El Salvador’s pioneering role in digital asset adoption took center stage at the Digital Asset Summit (DAS SV) 2025. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized the nation’s transformative impact on the global financial landscape and that real progress in digital assets begins with education and international collaboration. In his keynote address, Ardoino outlined Tether’s commitment to education, regulatory collaboration, and inclusive financial systems, positioning El Salvador as a blueprint for responsible innovation.

El Salvador: A Beacon of Regulatory Clarity

Ardoino praised El Salvador for becoming the first to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender and a sovereign asset. The nation’s comprehensive digital asset framework, covering licensing, stablecoin regulations, and market infrastructure, propelled it to the top of global rankings for digital asset regulation. This regulatory clarity and institutional follow-through have created a blueprint for other nations aiming to balance innovation with accountability.

Key milestones highlighted:

• First sovereign holder of Bitcoin
• First to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender;
• Implementation of a comprehensive digital asset law regulating licensing and stablecoin frameworks;
• Prioritization of remittances, financial inclusion, and empowerment for underserved communities.

“El Salvador’s vision inspires us,” Ardoino said, adding that the country’s commitment to regulatory clarity, institutional follow-through, and willingness to break from legacy constraints earned it the top spot in global rankings for digital asset regulation.

Education and Collaboration: Foundations of a Healthy Ecosystem

Ardoino stressed that trust in digital assets hinges on global collaboration and education. “Digital assets are about stability, financial access, innovation, and opportunity, especially for communities left behind by traditional finance,” he noted. 

The DAS SV summit exemplifies this ethos, bringing together regulators, investigative units, and industry leaders to build frameworks for compliance and supervision.

Tether’s sponsorship of DAS aligns with its mission to support initiatives that drive real-world impact. The company champions efforts to create borderless financial systems while emphasizing transparency and inclusivity.

Tether’s Vision for Central and South America

Ardoino framed El Salvador as a “launchpad for the future,” particularly for Central and South America. He highlighted El Salvador’s unique role in shaping how digital assets can transcend speculative investment to serve practical needs like remittances, financial inclusion, and economic empowerment. 

He reiterated Tether’s support for education, which leads to sustainable growth and opportunity across the region.

A Call to Action

The Tether CEO called for collective responsibility: “Let’s work together to make digital assets a true force for good.” His remarks bring emphasis to the urgency of building infrastructure that prioritizes inclusivity and accountability, a vision already being realized in El Salvador.

“Education and collaboration must come first. There’s no better place to host this conversation than in El Salvador.” – Paolo Ardoino.