Tether has led an $8 million funding round for Bitcoin payments startup Speed as part of a push to bring enterprise-grade stablecoin payments to the Bitcoin layer-2 Lightning Network. “Speed’s architecture demonstrates how Lightning and stablecoins can operate together to move money at high scale with low fees, strong compliance, and global reach,” Tether said in a statement on Tuesday. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino added: “Speed’s execution and adoption signal that Bitcoin-rooted networks are ready for mainstream commerce.” Ego Death Capital, a firm focused on the Bitcoin ecosystem, also participated in the round. Speed powers payments for more than 1.2 million consumers, creators, platforms and enterprise merchants through its Speed Wallet and Speed Merchant products, and currently processes over $1.5 billion in annual payment volume. The company’s stack is built to pair Lightning’s speed and low fees with stablecoins’ price stability—a combination Tether argues is suited for large-scale commercial use. For Tether, the investment furthers a broader strategy of supporting Bitcoin-focused payment infrastructure while expanding the utility of its USDT stablecoin. “We back teams building practical infrastructure that reduces friction in payments and increases access to reliable settlement rails,” Ardoino said. This deal adds to a portfolio that now includes more than 140 companies across areas from Bitcoin mining to AI, energy, finance and even sports teams. Much of that deployment has been funded by Tether’s recent windfall: interest earned on the US Treasury bills that underwrite USDT. USDT remains the world’s largest stablecoin with a market cap of $186.3 billion. Tether reported more than $10 billion in profit for the first three quarters of 2025, following $13.4 billion in profit in 2024—figures that have helped make it one of the most profitable companies per employee globally. The investment signals growing confidence among major stablecoin issuers that Lightning-based payment rails can support mainstream, high-volume commercial use—an inflection point proponents say would broaden how and where crypto is used for everyday and enterprise payments. Read more AI-generated news on: undefined/news

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