USDT and TetherInc are basically a test tube for USD-CBDC

 TIL :  

• - TetherInc is NOT regulated to prove its claim that all USDT issued is backed 1-1 with traditional USD assets ; it has never been comprehensively audited by a third-party ; is has a history of being fined for false claims
• - TetherInc controls the USDT validator network, and can arbitrarily freeze any USDT wallet ; it has a history of cooperation with US.gov to seize assets 
• - the absence of regulatory stringency combined with government cooperation basically indicates that US.gov allows TetherInc to function as a sort of test tube for USD-CBDC
• - the mechanism of seizing USDT assets seems fairly straightforward : TetherInc simply has to freeze a wallet, and transfer the corresponding reserve assets to the seizing party