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Key Takeaways
- Tether led an $8 million funding round for Speed1, Inc., supporting Bitcoin Lightning Network and stablecoin payment infrastructure.
- Speed enables over $1.5 billion in annual payment volume with instant $BTC and $USDT settlement for consumers and merchants.
Tether announced Tuesday that the company had made a strategic investment in Speed, a payments infrastructure provider leveraging the Bitcoin Lightning Network and stablecoins for instant settlement.
Tether led Speed’s $8 million funding round alongside ego death capital, supporting a platform that already processes more than $1.5 billion in annual payment volume.
Speed’s products serve over 1 million users and businesses, offering instant payments with native $BTC and $USDT settlements across consumers, creators, platforms, and enterprise merchants.
“Speed is showing what Lightning can achieve when paired with a stable, liquid digital dollar like $USDT,” said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino. “We support teams building practical infrastructure that reduces friction in payments and expands access to reliable settlement rails. Speed’s execution and adoption signal that Bitcoin-rooted networks are ready for mainstream commerce.”
“Crypto has lived in the world of speculation for too long. Speed is making it usable – instantly, globally, and at scale. Lightning gives us speed; stablecoins give us universal access; our infrastructure brings it all together for consumers, creators, and merchants,” said Niraj Patel, CEO of Speed1, Inc.
The investment reflects Tether’s commitment to expanding the Bitcoin-aligned infrastructure and increasing $USDT’s utility beyond trading, positioning Lightning-based networks as viable settlement rails for global commerce.