Tether has led an $8 million investment in Speed, a payments infrastructure company that integrates the Bitcoin Lightning Network with USDT to enable fast, low-cost, and stable transactions. The move is part of Tether’s ongoing strategy to expand the practical utility of its stablecoin beyond trading and into everyday financial use.
Speed currently processes over $1.5 billion annually, supporting 1.2 million users through its products: Speed Wallet and Speed Merchant. These platforms offer seamless payment experiences for individuals, creators, businesses, and enterprises, using Bitcoin’s Lightning protocol for instant transactions and USDT for price-stable settlements.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized the importance of combining Lightning’s speed with stablecoins’ accessibility, stating that this model could significantly reduce payment friction and open up global financial access, especially for underbanked regions.
The partnership reflects Tether’s broader push to build Bitcoin-aligned infrastructure while extending USDT’s reach into commerce, platform payouts, and merchant services. The firm sees Lightning-based stablecoin payments as a scalable alternative to traditional networks, particularly for cross-border transactions and micro-payments.
With this investment, Speed is expected to expand its services and deepen its integrations with wallets, fintech apps, and enterprise platforms seeking blockchain-backed, stable payment rails.
