Indeed, and yet...Tether marches on. At the end of the day, I think they may be serving different uses...but this may be a weaker claim than I realize. 

Scoresby

bitcoin

Tether Fun Unbelievable Details - Part I

i'll take the relative simplicity of bitcoin/lightning over all this 

***Bitcoin is 'operated' by ..... no-one, it is a protocol***

or should we say say several thousands of anonymous node-runners spanning dozens of geopolitical jurisdictions? the only thing they are 'operating,' though, is their own node. 