Tether’s USAT Stablecoin Launches on Celo, Marking Its Second Mainnet Deployment

TL;DR

• Tether has expanded its GENIUS Act-compliant USAT stablecoin to the Celo blockchain, making it the token’s second live deployment after Ethereum.
• USAT users on Celo can pay transaction fees directly with the stablecoin thanks to the network’s gas abstraction technology, removing the need to hold CELO for basic transfers.
• The integration strengthens Celo’s growing role in stablecoin payments, where it already ranks among the leading networks for USDT activity and cross-chain transfers.
  

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Tether’s USAT stablecoin has expanded to the Celo blockchain, bringing its U.S. regulatory-focused digital dollar to a second mainnet after its Ethereum debut earlier this year. The launch reflects Tether’s broader strategy of offering compliant stablecoin infrastructure while expanding into networks designed for fast, low-cost payments. By choosing Celo, the company is targeting an ecosystem that has already demonstrated strong adoption of digital dollar transactions across emerging markets and mobile-first applications.

Tether’s USAT Stablecoin Expands Across Celo

USAT is designed to comply with the U.S. GENIUS Act framework, maintaining one-to-one backing through cash and high-quality liquid assets, including U.S. Treasury securities. Unlike USDT, which serves global markets, USAT focuses on users and institutions seeking a stablecoin aligned with evolving U.S. regulatory standards.

A notable feature of the Celo deployment is native minting and burning directly on the blockchain. The network also supports gas abstraction through its CIP-64 upgrade, allowing users to pay transaction fees with ERC-20 tokens instead of maintaining separate balances of the native asset. This simplifies payments and reduces friction for businesses and individuals using digital dollars in everyday transactions.

Tether US CEO Bo Hines said the expansion reflects Celo’s established payment ecosystem, pointing to the network’s large number of daily users and consistent stablecoin activity. The integration was announced several months ago, with the technical rollout now complete.

Celo Strengthens Its Position In Stablecoin Payments

Celo has become one of the most active networks for Tether products. Company data shows the blockchain accounts for a significant share of cross-chain USDT transfers while also supporting a large portion of activity related to Tether Gold’s omnichain version. The ecosystem combines low transaction costs, Ethereum compatibility, and mobile accessibility, characteristics that continue to attract payment-focused applications.

USAT currently represents a small share of Tether’s overall stablecoin business, with a market capitalization well below USDT’s massive circulating supply. Even so, its expansion highlights growing demand for compliant digital assets that can operate across multiple blockchain environments without sacrificing efficiency.

Anchorage Digital Bank, the federally chartered crypto-native bank regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), remains the issuer of USAT.