Tether Invests in Bitcoin Lightning and Stablecoin Startup Speed1
Tether has led an $8 million investment in Bitcoin startup Speed to boost enterprise stablecoin payments on the Bitcoin Lightning Network. Speed’s technology enables large-scale, low-fee, compliant global transactions using Lightning and stablecoins. The round also saw participation from Ego Death Capital. Speed currently serves over 1.2 million users and processes more than $1.5 billion in annual payments through its wallet and merchant solutions. This move aligns with Tether’s broader strategy to expand the use of its USDT stablecoin in Bitcoin-centered payment systems and to support practical financial infrastructure projects. Tether’s investments span over 140 companies across sectors like Bitcoin mining, AI, energy, and finance, funded by significant profits—over $10 billion in the first three quarters of 2025 and $13.4 billion in 2024—mainly from interest on US Treasury holdings backing USDT, which has a $186.3 billion market cap. Tether is among the world’s most profitable companies on a per-employee basis.
