The issuer of the largest stablecoin, Tether, is preparing to launch USDT on the Bitcoin base blockchain. Unlike conventional issuances on Tron, Ethereum, or Solana, this project is implemented through the RGB protocol version 0.11.1. The full release is expected in the coming weeks, tentatively in July 2025. This is not just a simple expansion — it is a return to the origins, where USDT first appeared back in 2014.
The development and deployment are being handled by UTEXO Labs, established with the participation of Tether Investments, venture fund Fulgur Ventures, and Boosty Venture Studio. The key goal of the partners is to bring the stablecoin to the Bitcoin mainnet, using Lightning Network technology for settlements. This fundamentally changes the transaction architecture: transfers will be instant, confidential, and with minimal fees, as settlements move off-chain.
Technical Features: How RGB Works
The RGB protocol allows issuing digital assets on top of the Bitcoin network. All settlements are conducted through the Lightning Network — a fast payment network that ensures instantaneity and confidentiality. Users will be able to transfer coins through compatible wallets using standard Bitcoin addresses. Several popular services, including Tether Wallet, have already announced support, and major exchanges are actively preparing technical integration.
Key advantages of the new infrastructure:
- Maximum privacy: Bitcoin generates a unique address for each transfer, complicating tracking.
- Cheap and fast exchange: Elimination of intermediary chains, hidden fees, and price slippage.
- Absolute reliability: Use of the oldest blockchain with minimal risk of software failures.
According to UTEXO co-founder Viktor Ignatyuk, transactions will occur without slippage at fair market prices. Of course, the token itself retains a centralized structure — reserve management remains with the issuer.
Competition with Tron and Historical Context
Today, the Tron blockchain remains the leader in USDT transaction volume, having seized the initiative back in 2017 when RGB developers failed to complete tests in time for the bull market. The return to Bitcoin is a direct challenge to Tron's dominance. On the Tron network, transfers require a special address type and mandatory fee payment in TRX tokens, creating inconveniences for users. In the Bitcoin ecosystem, all settlements will occur in satoshis, without the need to purchase third-party coins.
The RGB architecture is based on the single-use seals concept proposed by Peter Todd in 2014. This mechanism effectively protects against double-spending. The system was later refined by Giacomo Zucco and Riccardo Casatta. Initially, the RGB acronym was derived from the creators' names, but it was later reinterpreted as Really Good Bitcoin.
The current technological layer for the upcoming release was created by Federico Tenga from the research department of the Bitfinex exchange. The UTEXO team has completed the final preparation stage, creating developer tools, user-friendly interfaces, and a special cross-chain bridge. A working prototype of the bridge for asset transfers is already available on the official website mint.utexo.com.
The crypto community has received the news positively, although some participants remain cautious. Optimistic analysts believe that the emergence of stablecoins on Bitcoin will strengthen the ecosystem's position. Skeptics point to the prolonged development process. The initiative's success directly depends on the speed of integration with trading platforms and the influx of real liquidity. Previously, it was a liquidity deficit that led to the closure of a similar project on the old Omni blockchain.
Expert opinion: The return of USDT to Bitcoin is not just a technological upgrade but a strategic maneuver that could redistribute liquidity flows in the stablecoin market. If the integration is successful, we will witness a significant strengthening of Bitcoin's role as a base settlement network, potentially undermining the dominance of Tron and Ethereum in this segment.