Tether has announced plans to launch GEL₮, a stablecoin tied to the Georgian Lari, in partnership with the Government of Georgia. The project is designed to place the country’s national currency on blockchain rails, making it one of the first major efforts to link a sovereign currency directly with a stablecoin system.
Tether, which operates the largest stablecoin ecosystem in the world through USD₮, says GEL₮ will extend this model to a national currency. The initiative aims to support digital payments, remittances, and fintech development across Georgia and the wider region.
Tether and the Government of Georgia to Launch GEL₮, the Official Stablecoin of Georgiahttps://t.co/ueSLlJzot1
— Tether (@tether) May 25, 2026
GEL₮ use cases in Georgia’s financial system
GEL₮ is designed to function as a digital version of the Georgian Lari. It will be used for payments, settlement, and cross-border transfers, with near-instant processing and lower transaction costs.
The stablecoin will also support programmable payments, allowing financial applications to automate transactions on blockchain systems. Authorities expect it to improve access to digital financial tools for both businesses and consumers.
Georgia has already allowed some digital asset use cases, including tax payments that can be converted from crypto into local currency. GEL₮ builds on this foundation by creating a regulated digital form of the national currency.
Why is Georgia working with Tether on a national stablecoin?
The Government of Georgia and the National Bank say the project is part of a wider effort to modernize financial infrastructure and attract digital asset businesses. The country has been developing a regulatory framework to provide clear rules for stablecoin issuance, reserves, and compliance.
Officials say the framework is designed to align with emerging global standards, including evolving US stablecoin regulation, to ensure interoperability with international markets.
Implications for global stablecoin adoption
Tether says stablecoins are becoming a core part of global financial infrastructure, used for payments, settlement, and trade. The company highlights the scale of USD₮, which has a market value nearing $190 billion and high daily trading volumes.
With GEL₮, Georgia becomes one of the first countries to directly integrate a national currency into a stablecoin system issued by a global issuer, showing growing interest in digital fiat infrastructure as part of modern financial systems.
Notably, Tether launched QVAC MedPsy, a new medical AI system built to run directly on smartphones, wearables, and local devices without relying on cloud infrastructure.
Enjoyed this? Bookmark DeFi Planet, explore related topics, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Threads and CoinMarketCap Community for seamless access to high-quality industry insights.
“Take control of your crypto portfolio with DEFI PLANET PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytical tools”
