# Celo's Transaction Fees Increasingly Paid with USDT
A Game-Changer for Blockchain Accessibility
Celo, now an Ethereum Layer-2 protocol, is making waves in the blockchain space with its innovative approach to transaction fees. Recent developments show that nearly 50% of Celo’s transaction fees are now paid using Tether’s USDT, a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar. This shift, highlighted in recent posts on X, marks a significant step toward making blockchain transactions more accessible and user-friendly, especially for those in emerging markets.
Celo’s transition to an Ethereum L2, completed in March 2025, brought sub-cent transaction costs, one-second block times, and the ability to pay gas fees in USDT and USDC. This is a departure from traditional blockchain models where native tokens like ETH or CELO are required for fees. By allowing USDT, a widely used stablecoin, to cover gas fees natively without complex account abstraction, Celo simplifies the user experience.
This feature is particularly impactful for Celo’s mission to create a financial system that fosters prosperity for all. With over 1,000 partners in 150 countries and a mobile-first design, Celo targets users who may not be familiar with crypto complexities. Paying fees in USDT, a stable currency, eliminates the need to navigate volatile token markets, making transactions more predictable and cost-effective. Since USDT accounts for over 61% of the $231 billion stablecoin market, its integration as a gas currency boosts Celo’s appeal for everyday transactions, from microtransactions to DeFi applications
The adoption of USDT for fees has seen rapid growth. Over $70 million worth of USDT has been issued on Celo, with on-chain transfers surpassing 238,000 in just one month of native USDT support. This indicates strong ecosystem uptake, as users and developers embrace the streamlined payment architecture.