Tether Signals Lightning Payments Are Ready for Everyday Use

Tether keeps leaning deeper into Bitcoin based infrastructure. The stablecoin issuer confirmed an $8 million investment in Speed, a payments company focused on fast, low cost transactions over the Lightning Network.

The move ties directly into Tether plans to bring USDT closer to everyday payments built on Bitcoin rails.

Good to Know

• Tether led an $8m funding round for Speed
• Lightning supports instant, low fee Bitcoin transactions
• USDT and Bitcoin will both run through the same payment flow

Tether Targets Lightning Payments at Scale

The funding round was led by Tether with participation from Ego Death Capital. Capital will support development of stablecoin payments on Lightning, a network layered on Bitcoin to allow near instant settlement.

Speed aims to enable payments using native Bitcoin alongside USDT. That setup blends a volatile asset with a stable digital dollar inside the same payment infrastructure.

Speed already processes more than $1.5 billion in annual payment volume. The platform supports consumers, creators, platforms, and enterprise merchants through Speed Wallet and Speed Merchant. Together, those products serve around 1.2 million users and businesses.

Infrastructure Built for Real Use

Tether framed the deal as part of a broader effort to reduce friction in global payments and widen access to dependable settlement tools.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said:

“Speed is showing what Lightning can achieve when paired with a stable, liquid digital dollar like USDT.

We support teams building practical infrastructure that reduces friction in payments and expands access to reliable settlement rails. Speed’s execution and adoption signal that Bitcoin-rooted networks are ready for mainstream commerce.”

Tether first shared plans to bring USDT onto Bitcoin earlier this year through a partnership with Lightning Labs. The Speed investment puts capital behind that strategy and adds a payments layer already operating at scale.