Tether Invests $8M in Speed: Lightning Payments Scale Up

• Tether invests $8M in Speed to expand Bitcoin Lightning and USDT payment rails globally.
• Speed blends instant Lightning transfers with stablecoins, reducing volatility for merchants.
• Partnership emphasizes practical crypto payments over speculation, targeting global adoption.

Tether expanded its footprint in real-world crypto payments today by leading an $8 million strategic investment in Speed. 

According to the press release, the investment fuels Speed’s ambition to build instant, global settlement rails using the Bitcoin Lightning Network alongside stablecoins. Beyond simply improving transaction speed, the model targets lower costs and broader access for merchants. Significantly, this partnership aligns with Tether’s long-term strategy to build Bitcoin-oriented financial systems.

Speed enters the partnership with established traction. The company already processes more than $1.5 billion in annual payment volume, servicing over 1.2 million users and businesses worldwide. 

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Lightning Meets Stablecoin Settlement

Speed’s core proposition blends Lightning’s instant transfer capability with USDT settlement to ensure price stability. This structure removes the volatility risk that often scares off merchants.

Moreover, it enables cross-border payments without the multi-day delays common in traditional banking rails.

Product Lines

The company offers two main products. Speed Wallet targets everyday users who want fast and simple transactions. Speed Merchant focuses on businesses that require reliable global routing and settlement. Additionally, the platform supports native BTC and USDT, giving users flexible settlement options.

Speed’s architecture also emphasizes compliance and reliability. Consequently, it appeals to enterprises that require predictable performance at high volumes. The company positions itself as infrastructure rather than a consumer-facing brand alone.

Tether’s Strategy

For Tether, the investment reflects a broader push to extend USDT beyond trading environments. Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, has consistently emphasized practical payment use cases. Hence, backing Speed fits Tether’s goal of strengthening Bitcoin-aligned payment rails.

The company views Lightning as a scalable foundation for global commerce. Moreover, pairing it with USDT addresses concerns around price swings. This combination allows users to move value quickly while maintaining purchasing power.

Speed’s leadership argues that crypto payments must move past speculative narratives. The platform focuses on usability, speed, and global reach. Consequently, the partnership positions both firms to influence how digital dollars and Bitcoin coexist in everyday transactions.

Related: Tether Faces Fresh Insolvency Warnings Over ‘Volatile’ Reserve Assets