Bitcoin Gets Native Stablecoin: Tether Integrates USDT via RGB Protocol

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By Jason Walker

Tether is making a significant strategic move by integrating its widely used USDT stablecoin directly onto the Bitcoin network through the innovative RGB protocol. This initiative is set to expand Bitcoin’s utility beyond its established role as a store of value, enabling native stablecoin operations and potentially reshaping the landscape of digital finance.

  • Expands Bitcoin’s utility beyond a store of value.
  • Enables native stablecoin operations directly on the Bitcoin network.
  • Facilitates private, scalable, and user-controlled digital asset issuance.
  • Allows users to store and transact USDT alongside their Bitcoin within a single wallet.
  • Opens possibilities for private, sovereign, and even offline value transfers.
  • Merges USDT’s inherent stability with Bitcoin’s robust security.

Understanding the RGB Protocol’s Innovation

The RGB protocol, which recently advanced to mainnet version 0.11.1, is engineered to facilitate private, scalable, and user-controlled issuance of digital assets directly on the Bitcoin blockchain. This technological leap offers tangible benefits for users, allowing them to store and transact USDT alongside their Bitcoin holdings within a single wallet. This integration promises private, sovereign transactions and even opens possibilities for offline value transfers.

Tether’s Strategic Vision for Bitcoin

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino underscored the strategic importance of this development, asserting that “Bitcoin deserves a stablecoin that feels truly native, lightweight, private, and scalable.” He further elaborated that the RGB protocol provides USDT with “a powerful new path into Bitcoin,” reinforcing the company’s commitment to building the foundation for a more accessible and freer financial future.

Broader Implications and Strategic Support

This move aims to organically embed stablecoins into the core Bitcoin ecosystem, merging the stability inherent in USDT with the robust security of the Bitcoin network. Tether views this synergy as a critical advancement for global digital payments. This strategic expansion is supported by Tether’s strong corporate performance, including a reported profit of $4.9 billion in the second quarter of 2025, and further strengthened by the recent appointment of Bo Hines, former head of the White House’s crypto council, as a strategic advisor.

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