The People's Stablecoin
For all, not the few...
Tether on Bitcoin: The People's Stablecoin
For years, critics of Tether have tried to paint it as a villain in the stablecoin wars. With perma-fudders funded by adversaries in the field attempting to wreak “social” havoc but always failing because the product is just so damn good. Regulators, competitors, and even so-called industry “leaders” have tried to undermine its dominance. But time and time again, Tether has proven to be the most durable, the most useful, and above all; the most honorable. Yes that exists in Web3.
And now, with USDT on Bitcoin via Lightning, that ethos is more clear than ever. Tether is going back to crypto’s roots: fast, reliable, borderless finance for everyone, not just the privileged few. Few.
Bitcoin-Powered Freedom
Circle and its USDC have made it obvious who they serve. They build for Wall Street, for regulators, and for a select group of corporate entities that want control over digital dollars. Their focus? Permissioned blockchains, government partnerships, and deep compliance ties that make their stablecoin anything but stable.
Tether? It builds for everyone. It builds for the market. In bringing USDT to Bitcoin, Tether made yet another statement about permissionless finance.
This is very important because Bitcoin isn’t just another blockchain. It’s the king; it’s the blockchain; the most secure, the most decentralized, the most censorship-resistant. Or, as Travis Kling puts it ever so eloquently, a non-sovereign, hard cap supply, global, immutable, decentralized, digital store of value. And now, Tether is leveraging it to offer the fastest, most resilient form of stablecoin transactions available.
This is a direct counter to the creeping centralization we see with USDC and its deep ties to the banking elite.
Why USDT on Lightning Moves Markets
If you’ve ever moved USDC, you’ve likely encountered its limitations. Additionally, as a centrally issued stablecoin, USDC operates under regulatory oversight that gives issuers the ability to freeze funds under certain conditions. Yet they still don’t do this as a response to user funds being exploited or super severe hacks.
USDT on Lightning might make Jeremy feel uncomfortable. Here’s why:
Near-instant transfers
Settlements in milliseconds, unlike slow ERC-20 transactions
Micropayments become possible
Small, everyday transactions in stablecoins are now a reality
Bitcoin security
The most resilient network in the world now powers the most widely used stablecoin
The integration of Taproot Assets, a protocol developed by Lightning Labs, allows tokenized assets like USDT to operate on Bitcoin without compromising its decentralized nature. This unlocks new financial applications such as microtransactions, remittances, and efficient cross-border settlements. (Source)
Tether is proving that stablecoins can align with real crypto values instead of selling out to compliance-driven institutions.
Survival of the Most Resilient
The stablecoin wars are about one thing: who survives? And survival isn’t just about market cap; it’s about who adapts, who innovates, and who remains loyal to crypto’s core values. Who are you serving fine sir?
Tether is not only the largest stablecoin but also the most battle-tested. It has survived regulatory scrutiny, banking attacks, and FUD campaigns from competitors, yet it remains the preferred choice of traders, emerging markets, and now the Bitcoin ecosystem itself. Many OGs in the space realize that Paolo Ardoino is more of a Bitcoin maxi and a freedom maximalist than anything else.
With USDT on Lightning, Tether tells us once again that it’s here for the long haul, and it’s here for everyone. Circle and USDC may chase government approval, but Tether is securing its place in history by backing the only truly decentralized money that exists; Bitcoin.
I love stablecoins, Tether in particular, and I will be writing about the ongoing and ever-increasing future stablecoin war. Stay tuned for insights, drama, and analysis as it all unfolds.
P.S. In case you didn’t realize, I am not Patrick Hansen.