USDT is now live on Bitcoin’s base layer and Lightning Network, marking a major milestone for stablecoin integration within the Bitcoin ecosystem.
Tether announced this development on January 30 at the Plan B conference in El Salvador, where CEO Paolo Ardoino framed the initiative as a leap toward real-world financial applications. According to Ardoino, the move will enable faster, more reliable remittances, payments, and financial services.
Elizabeth Stark, CEO of Lightning Labs, highlighted the significance of the expansion, stating: “Millions of people will now have the ability to use the most open, secure blockchain to send dollars worldwide. It all comes back to Bitcoin.”
The integration relies on Taproot Assets, a Lightning Labs-developed protocol that allows asset issuance on Bitcoin’s base layer while leveraging the Lightning Network for faster transactions. Originally released in 2023, Taproot Assets serves as a bridge for stablecoins and other digital assets, facilitating low-cost, high-speed micropayments on Bitcoin’s infrastructure.
Once fully deployed, USDT will operate seamlessly across Bitcoin’s main chain and its layer-2 Lightning Network, merging Bitcoin’s security with Lightning’s instant transaction capabilities.
Beyond its Bitcoin expansion, Tether has partnered with Medoo, Vietnam’s decentralized educational platform, to launch Blockchain Academy. The initiative will equip Vietnamese users with blockchain and digital economy skills through courses developed by Tether and Edumall. The stablecoin issuer stated that Medoo’s blockchain-based education model will help broaden access to cutting-edge learning solutions across multiple industries.
The program aims to reach thousands of students within six months,, covering topics from blockchain fundamentals to advanced applications. A major highlight will be the Digital Asset Bootcamp, co-developed with a leading Vietnamese university.
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