It was early April, during the middle of a conversation with Decrypt at Cantor Fitzgerald’s swanky midtown Manhattan headquarters, that Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino abruptly asked to pause the interview. The reason? He’d noticed a “weird message” on the laptop open in front of him. After twenty seconds of silence in the conference room, Ardoino’s face flashed a big grin. Reports were circulating that Circle, one of Tether’s chief competitors, might tap the brakes on its long-planned IPO. ”People were not impressed by their financials and disclosures,” Ardoino said in reaction at the time. “They make no money, I guess.” ... (full story)