Tether Brings USD₮ to Bitcoin’s Lightning Network

💡 Spotlight: Tether

We are excited to introduce Tether, the issuer of USD₮, the world’s largest stablecoin by market capitalization and trading volume. USD₮ processes over $90 billion in daily transactions, making it the most widely used digital asset in the crypto economy—surpassing even Bitcoin and Ethereum in on-chain activity. In January 2025, Tether announced a major integration of USD₮ with Bitcoin’s base layer and Lightning Network.

History of Tether

Tether was launched in 2014 by a group of Bitcoin enthusiasts, including Brock Pierce, Reeve Collins, and Giancarlo Devasini, with the goal of creating a stable, blockchain-native currency that could bridge traditional finance and crypto. USD₮ was designed to maintain a 1:1 peg with the U.S. dollar, offering traders, institutions, and emerging markets a reliable store of value and medium of exchange.

Since its inception, USD₮ has expanded across multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Tron, Solana, and, most recently, Bitcoin’s Lightning Network via Taproot Assets. Today, Tether is the backbone of global crypto liquidity, supporting payments, remittances, and DeFi applications worldwide.

Tether’s Key Features

• Unmatched Liquidity & Stability: USD₮ consistently ranks as the most traded digital asset, with a daily trading volume that often surpasses Bitcoin.

• Multi-Chain Availability: USD₮ operates on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Tron, and over a dozen other blockchains, making it widely accessible.

• Bitcoin Integration via Taproot Assets: By leveraging Bitcoin’s Taproot Assets, Tether enables high-speed, low-cost USD₮ transactions secured by Bitcoin’s infrastructure.

• Global Adoption & Compliance: Tether works with regulators and law enforcement to combat illicit activity while expanding its presence in regulated markets.

Tether’s Recent News

Tether has launched its $140 billion USD₮ stablecoin on the Bitcoin blockchain and the Lightning Network. This integration is facilitated by Lightning Labs' Taproot Assets protocol, allowing USD₮ issuance on Bitcoin's base layer and enabling faster, more cost-effective transactions via the Lightning Network. ​

Issuing USD₮ directly on Bitcoin's blockchain unlocks new possibilities for decentralized finance, moving Bitcoin beyond a store of value. By combining Tether's stability with Bitcoin's secure, globally accessible network, users now have access to efficient and reliable solutions for payments, remittances, and everyday financial transactions.

The Future

With integrations on Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, growing regulatory acceptance, and an expanding role in crypto security, Tether is shaping the next era of digital finance. As Bitcoin adoption accelerates, USD₮ is positioned to be the primary stable asset within Bitcoin’s evolving ecosystem, unlocking new use cases for payments, remittances, and decentralized applications.

Tether isn’t just a stablecoin—it’s the infrastructure powering global financial innovation.

Learn more about Tether’s latest developments here.