Tether Invests $8 Million in Payments Startup Speed
Date: 2025-12-17 Author: Henry Casey Categories: BUSINESS
Tether, known as the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, announced an investment in Speed, a fintech startup specializing in crypto payments. The funding round totals $8 million, with venture capital firm Ego Death Capital also participating and co-investing in the deal. The investment is part of Tether's broader strategy aimed at expanding the real-world use cases of digital assets.
Speed is developing a technology platform for fast and accessible payments worldwide. The company's solutions are based on the integration of the Bitcoin Lightning network with support for settlements in stablecoins, including USDT. This approach enables transactions to be processed almost instantly and with minimal fees, which is especially important for international transfers and mass payment scenarios.
According to the company, Speed products are already used by more than 1.2 million users and businesses. Its key services—Speed Wallet and Speed Merchant—are designed for both individuals and businesses accepting payments from customers worldwide. Combined, the platform processes over $1.5 billion annually, underscoring its market relevance and maturity.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino noted that Speed clearly demonstrates the potential of combining the Lightning Network and a liquid digital dollar. He asserted that this combination can provide scalable and efficient payment solutions that go beyond crypto speculation and find application in the everyday economy.
Speed also emphasizes its goal of making cryptocurrency a practical tool. CEO Niraj Patel stated that the industry has long been associated primarily with investments and trade, whereas Speed focuses on practical value: fast, global, and convenient settlements for businesses, content creators, and digital platforms.
One of the key advantages of Speed's solutions is the reduction of barriers to cross-border payments. Using Lightning eliminates the delays and high fees of traditional financial systems, while support for stablecoins reduces volatility, which is especially important for commercial transactions.
Tether emphasized that the investment in Speed is fully consistent with the company's long-term vision. This vision envisions Bitcoin's growing role in the global payment infrastructure and the further adoption of USDT as a universal payment method in real-world scenarios. Tether has previously invested in projects outside of traditional fintech, including Generative Bionics, demonstrating the company's commitment to diversifying its development pipeline and supporting innovative technologies.
