The stablecoin issuer Tether announced plans Thursday to launch its USDT stablecoin on the RGB protocol, expanding native stablecoin support on Bitcoin.
Tether Brings USDT to RGB, Enhancing Bitcoin’s Capabilities
RGB is dubbed a next-generation protocol for issuing digital assets and smart contracts on Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. It operates primarily off-chain using a client-side validation model, which enhances privacy and scalability without altering Bitcoin’s core protocol or congesting its blockchain. The protocol enables the private and user-controlled issuance of tokens.
By launching on RGB, Tether’s release notes that USDT will be transacted directly on Bitcoin’s base layer, leveraging its security and decentralization. Tether says this integration will allow users to hold and transfer USDT within the same wallet as their bitcoin (BTC), facilitating fast, private, and lightweight payments.
“ Bitcoin deserves a stablecoin that feels truly native, lightweight, private, and scalable,” Paolo Ardoino, the CEO of Tether, remarked on Wednesday. “With RGB, USDT gains a powerful new pathway on Bitcoin, reinforcing our belief in Bitcoin as the foundation of a freer financial future.”
The move enables functionalities like offline transactions and reinforces Bitcoin’s utility beyond a store of value (SoV). It combines the stability of the world’s largest stablecoin with the security of the Bitcoin network.
