What to Know
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Tether launches USDT on RGB, bringing stablecoins directly to Bitcoin and Lightning.
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Transactions stay off-chain, secure, and Lightning-compatible.
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Tether’s growing influence extends through commodities play and a new HQ in El Salvador.
Tether just made a big announcement: it is launching its USDT token on the RGB protocol. This will let people send and receive stablecoins directly on the Bitcoin network and through Lightning. This is a big step toward making stablecoins a real part of Bitcoin.
USDT Moves to Bitcoin’s Home
With the RGB v0.11.1 launch earlier this year, developers gained access to a new way to issue digital assets on Bitcoin without cluttering the main blockchain. Instead, assets like USDT are issued off-chain, and their validity is confirmed using Bitcoin’s underlying security. This method keeps transactions private, lightweight, and Lightning-compatible.
Tether’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, said, “Bitcoin deserves a stablecoin that feels truly native, lightweight, private, and scalable. With RGB, USDT gains a powerful new pathway on Bitcoin.”
What This Means for Users and Developers
After this integration, users will be able to hold and send USDT alongside Bitcoin within the same wallet. That means people no longer have to switch between different apps or blockchains to manage both assets. Transactions are also private and can only be checked by the user’s device. This keeps them safe and keeps other people from seeing the details. You can use the Lightning Network to make payments right away, even when you’re not connected to the internet. This makes it useful for everyday use.
Bitcoin was largely used only as a long-term store of value. Now, though, it can be the basis for fast, private, and flexible digital payments. This step could lead to more people using Bitcoin because stablecoins like USDT make it easier to use fiat currency in the Bitcoin ecosystem while keeping the speed and efficiency that users expect.
Why Tether’s Move Matters Now
USDT already has a market cap of over $158 billion and more than 60% of the stablecoin volume, making it the most popular stablecoin. It has over 400 million users around the world.
The business keeps growing in many ways. In July, Tether bought a majority stake in the South American company Adecoagro. The goal was to make it easier to use USDT in commodity trading and make payments easier across global supply chains. Tether has also named Bo Hines, the former Executive Director of the White House Crypto Council, as its Strategic Advisor for Digital Assets and U.S. Strategy. This shows that the company wants to strengthen its ties with regulators and institutions.
A Vision for Bitcoin-Native Stablecoins
Stablecoins like USDT used to live on blockchains like Ethereum or Tron, which are places where smart contracts exist. Moving USDT to RGB means putting stablecoins right into Bitcoin’s ecosystem without having to change the way people agree on things or make big changes to the infrastructure.
Now that Bitcoin and USDT can be used together in apps, it may be easier for merchants and wallet providers to use stablecoins because they can run directly on Bitcoin. In the end, it brings the crypto world closer to an “Internet of Money,” where money can move freely, privately, and safely all over the world.
What’s Next?
The launch of USDT on RGB is just the beginning. In the next few months, wallet providers are expected to add support for stablecoins that are native to Bitcoin. This will make it easier for regular people to try them out. Merchants may start testing USDT payments on Lightning, which combines the speed of Bitcoin with the stability of the dollar.
Regulators will also be keeping a close eye on things. As Tether grows into new markets and becomes more connected to Bitcoin, people are likely to start asking questions about compliance, making payments across borders, and keeping an eye on finances. If adoption grows as expected, USDT on RGB could be the first step toward Bitcoin becoming a useful way to make payments around the world.
Also Read: ETH Market Cap Could Surpass BTC in 1–2 Cycles, Says Trend Research Report
