Tether Brings USDt to Bitcoin and Lightning Network

Tether, the largest company in the digital assets industry, is integrating USDt into Bitcoin’s ecosystem. This move will enable USDt to function on both Bitcoin’s base layer and its second-layer Lightning Network. The integration is supported by Taproot Assets, a protocol developed by Lightning Labs that leverages Bitcoin’s Taproot upgrade.

By bringing USDt to Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, transactions will become faster and cheaper while maintaining Bitcoin’s well-known security and decentralization. With over 350 million users relying on USDt, this integration expands Bitcoin’s financial ecosystem, offering developers and users new ways to use stablecoins within the network.

Enhancing Bitcoin’s Capabilities

Taproot Assets enhances Bitcoin by enabling tokenized assets like USDt without compromising decentralization. This expansion introduces new financial applications, including microtransactions, remittances, and cross-border settlements. As Bitcoin continues to attract institutions and retail traders, the availability of USDt on the network strengthens its role in global finance.

“Tether is committed to driving innovation in the Bitcoin ecosystem,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “By enabling USDt on the Lightning Network, we are not only reinforcing Bitcoin’s foundational principles of decentralization and security but also creating practical solutions for remittances, payments, and other financial applications that demand both speed and reliability.”

Elizabeth Stark, CEO of Lightning Labs, emphasized how this integration transforms stablecoins. “Today marks a new era for stablecoins. Bringing USDt to Bitcoin combines the security and decentralization of Bitcoin with the speed and scalability of Lightning. Millions of people will now be able to use the most open, secure blockchain to send dollars globally. It all comes back to Bitcoin.”

Expanding Bitcoin’s Financial Use Cases

Tether and Lightning Labs will continue to work together to ensure seamless adoption and developer support. The introduction of USDt on the Lightning Network has the potential to make Bitcoin-based payments more practical for everyday use. As adoption grows, this collaboration could help Bitcoin gain traction in traditional financial systems, increasing its usability beyond investment and store-of-value purposes.