- Tether commits $20 million to Mercado Bitcoin, Latin America's leading regulated on-chain financial platform, to accelerate tokenization, payments, and lending infrastructure.
- USDT is set to return to its native Bitcoin blockchain via the RGB protocol within weeks, enabling instant, private transactions through Lightning Network.
- Hyundai Card successfully tested a stablecoin transfer using Tether's USDT, completing a cross-border payment in seven minutes versus hours via traditional banks.
- Bolivia is evaluating the inclusion of USDT in its national payment system, following a 630% surge in crypto transaction volume after lifting a ban in 2024.
Tether, the company behind the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has announced a $20 million strategic investment in Mercado Bitcoin, a regulated on-chain financial services platform based in Brazil. The move underscores Tether’s push into high-growth markets and its bet on blockchain-based financial infrastructure in Latin America. Mercado Bitcoin, founded in 2013, has evolved from a crypto exchange into a full-stack platform offering tokenized investments, credit, stablecoin-powered payments, banking services, and cross-border transfers. It now serves over 4.5 million users and has issued more than R$2 billion (roughly $380 million) in tokenized assets, operating under more than ten licenses across Brazil and Europe, including a Payment Institution license from Brazil’s central bank.
The investment will fuel Mercado Bitcoin’s expansion in payments, tokenized products for retail and institutional clients, lending, and on-chain capital markets, as well as support international growth and strategic partnerships. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino highlighted that Mercado Bitcoin has built a regulated, full-stack platform with unmatched licensing and tokenization infrastructure in the region. Roberto Dagnoni, Chairman and CEO of Mercado Bitcoin, noted that the transition of finance to on-chain systems is already underway, and the focus is now on building the infrastructure to support tokenization, stablecoins, and capital markets at scale. This deal adds to Tether’s growing list of strategic investments outside its core stablecoin business, which now includes payments, data, energy, and other infrastructure projects.
USDT Returns to Bitcoin via RGB Protocol
In a separate but equally significant development, Tether has confirmed that USDT will be issued natively on the Bitcoin blockchain using the RGB protocol, with the launch expected within weeks. According to an exclusive interview with Bitcoin Magazine, Tether is working with software company UTEXO to deploy USDT on Bitcoin via RGB version v0.11.1, bringing the stablecoin back to the blockchain where it originally launched in 2014 through the Omni layer. The RGB protocol combines client-side validation with the Lightning Network, allowing users to send and receive USDT through native Bitcoin addresses and enabling instant off-chain payments with compatible wallets. This design also improves privacy by generating fresh addresses for each transaction, leaving fewer traces on the public blockchain.
UTEXO co-founder Viktor Ihnatiuk described the rollout as bringing USDT ‘back home’ to Bitcoin, adding that the integration reduces intermediaries and gives businesses more control over transaction costs through APIs. The company has developed a live mint bridge that allows users to move USDT across multiple blockchains with deterministic low fees. Bitcoin Magazine reported that wallets, including the Tether Wallet for self-custody, and cryptocurrency exchanges are planning support for the new Bitcoin-native USDT. The move targets the Tron-dominated stablecoin market, where users often need to hold TRX solely for network fees. By running USDT directly on Bitcoin, the need for a separate fee token is eliminated, while leveraging Bitcoin’s long-established security model.
Hyundai Card Tests Stablecoin Transfers with Tether
Hyundai Card, the card and payments unit of Hyundai, completed a proof-of-concept test for stablecoin-based transfers using Tether’s USDT, according to a report by The Korea Herald. The test involved Hyundai Motor America converting $20,000 into stablecoins and sending them to Hyundai Motor Mexico, where they were converted back into dollars. The entire transfer and verification process took just seven minutes, compared to several hours through traditional banks. Tether, along with Avalanche and Axiym, participated in the test. A Hyundai Card spokesperson said the company will continue to explore stablecoin use cases, including international remittance and payment infrastructure. A second test is planned among Hyundai Motor subsidiaries in Europe, with additional partners such as Circle (issuer of USDC) and Visa, and will expand into local-currency remittances to test currency-conversion cost savings.
Bolivia Considers USDT as Part of National Payment System
Bolivia’s government is evaluating the potential inclusion of Tether’s USDT stablecoin in its national payment system, according to Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza. The proposal, reported by local outlet La Razón, would allow USDT to circulate alongside the boliviano and the U.S. dollar, though it remains under technical review and has not been granted legal-tender status. Officials are developing a regulatory framework for banks, digital wallets, and payment providers, with stronger anti-money laundering controls required as Bolivia remains on the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list. The move follows a sharp rise in crypto adoption after Bolivia’s central bank lifted restrictions on crypto transactions in June 2024. Central bank data shows transaction volume surged from $46.5 million in the first half of 2024 to $294 million in the same period last year, a 630% increase. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino commented on X that USDT is increasingly used as a cornerstone in emerging market economies.
These developments collectively highlight Tether’s expanding role in global financial infrastructure, from strategic investments in regulated platforms like Mercado Bitcoin to technical innovations like Bitcoin-native USDT and real-world corporate tests with Hyundai. The company’s stablecoin USDT, with a market capitalization exceeding $184 billion, continues to be a key player in cross-border payments, tokenization, and digital asset adoption across Latin America, Europe, and beyond. As financial services increasingly move on-chain, Tether’s backing of platforms that combine regulatory depth, market scale, and practical technology positions it at the center of this transformation.