Tether has invested $8 million to improve the payment speed of the Bitcoin Lightning Network.

In today's world, the application of blockchain technology in the field of payments is becoming increasingly recognized. The growing importance of digital payments has led to another significant development: Tether's substantial investment in Speed, a payment infrastructure company.

● Tether invested $8 million in Speed.

● This stablecoin leader is utilizing the Bitcoin Lightning Network to expand the uses of USDT.

● Speed uses the Bitcoin Lightning Network and stablecoins for instant payments.

Interestingly, Tether, a leading stablecoin company, announced a $8 million investment in Speed. Speed is a payment platform that utilizes the Bitcoin Lightning Network and stablecoins for instant global settlements. With an annual payment volume of over $1.5 billion, a user base of 1.2 million, and continuing growth, Speed’s platform perfectly aligns with Tether’s vision of expanding the use of USDT in real-world payments.

This substantial investment, led by Tether and supported by Ego Death Capital, demonstrates the growing importance of digital assets in modern finance. It also highlights the tremendous potential of blockchain technology in enhancing global payment capabilities.

Will Tether use the Bitcoin Lightning Network for payments?

On December 16, 2025, leading digital asset company Tether announced a strategic investment of $8 million in Speed. This move indicates that Tether is actively embracing the potential of the Bitcoin Lightning Network, aiming to innovate payment and financial infrastructure.

It is worth noting that this investment aims to strengthen the financial system related to Bitcoin, as well as expand the use of USDT in real-world payments. Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, commented in the press release: “

SPEED demonstrates the potential of combining lightning networks with stable, highly liquid digital dollars like USDT. We support teams who develop practical infrastructure that can reduce payment barriers and expand the reach of reliable settlement channels. The implementation and application of SPEED show that Bitcoin-based networks are ready to enter the mainstream commercial sector.”

This progress comes after Tether’s recent launch of the innovative QVAC Health platform. QVAC Health allows users to easily access their complete health data. This indicates that the stablecoin platform is expanding its influence across various industries.

How lightning networks and stablecoins can work together efficiently

According to the press release, SPEED has been integrated with the Bitcoin Lightning Network, enabling fast and efficient transactions. It also supports stablecoin settlements.

This powerful combination helps reduce the friction and complexity associated with cross-border transfers, creator payments, merchant payments, and other transactions. It is reported to provide users and businesses with a stable and reliable experience.

Niraj Patel, CEO of SPEED, emphasized SPEED’s innovative approach to blockchain-based payments, stating:

“加密货币长期以来一直处于投机状态。速度的提升使其变得可用——即时、全球、大规模。闪电网络赋予我们速度;稳定币赋予我们普遍的访问权限;我们的基础设施将这一切整合在一起，服务于消费者、创作者和商家。”

超越稳定币：Tether向比特币的战略性飞跃

有趣的是，Tether持有的大量比特币，总计超过87,296枚，价值约76.1亿美元，这让一些专家猜测该公司正在转型为一家以比特币为中心的公司。Ard​​oino的言论也印证了这一观点：“我们坚信比特币是最终的价值储存手段。”

由Tether和比特币闪电网络先驱Jack Mallers联合创立的比特币原生公司Twenty One的推出，标志着这一发展历程中的一个重要里程碑。在软银和Cantor Equity Partners的支持下，Twenty One近期完成了业务合并，并在纽约证券交易所(NYSE)上市交易，股票代码为XXI。

这一进展凸显了Tether对BTC日益增长的投入及其推动比特币主流化应用的潜力。随着Twenty One的推出和对Speed的投资，这家稳定币巨头有望在塑造比特币的未来中扮演重要角色。