- Tether invests in Fizen to push self-custodial payments and boost real-world crypto usage globally.
- USDT adoption grew 13% in Q1 2025, with over 400 million users reportedly using the stablecoin.
Tether has made another surprising move, this time by announcing a strategic investment in Fizen Limited, a company that develops self-custodial crypto wallets and digital payment systems. Not just a regular partnership, Tether seems to really want to expand the influence of USDT stablecoin in everyday life.
With Fizen’s approach that allows users to make stablecoin payments as easy as scanning a QR or tapping a card, this mission sounds quite reasonable.
Tether Announces Strategic Investment in Fizen to Strengthen Global Stablecoin Utilization and Self-Custody Solutionshttps://t.co/Jnh7nJdiSK
— Tether (@Tether_to) April 15, 2025
Tether Backs Real-World Use Through Fizen’s Model
Tether doesn’t just want crypto to be an asset to be held and traded. In his statement, CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized, “Tether’s investment in Fizen demonstrates our commitment to expanding global access to efficient and reliable digital financial solutions.”
He also highlighted the importance of self-custody payment infrastructure as the key to crypto being used in the real world, not just on the exchange screen.
Furthermore, Fizen has an interesting approach: users remain in control of their own funds without having to rely on third parties, while merchants can directly receive fiat without the hassle of crypto conversion. It’s a kind of bridge between the digital world and the traditional financial system, and while many people are still skeptical, Fizen offers a way that feels more realistic and user-friendly.
On the other hand, this is not the only breakthrough by Tether lately. CNF previously reported that Tether will also allocate its Bitcoin mining power to OCEAN, a mining pool created by Bitcoin core developer Luke Dashjr.
Interestingly, OCEAN uses an open-source protocol called DATUM which is claimed to be more resistant to censorship and can be used even in areas with low connectivity, such as Africa.
This step can be seen as a form of diversification from Tether. They are not only focusing on wallets and payments, but also building the foundation of the crypto infrastructure itself. And if everything goes according to plan, this could be a surefire way to secure their position in the long term.
Recently, Tether also announced the possibility of launching a new US-based stablecoin. The target? Institutional clients. Ardoino said this stablecoin will focus on faster settlement of interbank payments. Given the direction of the pro-crypto policy of the Donald Trump administration, this move could be the right moment for domestic expansion.
USDT adoption itself continues to show signs of growth. In the first quarter of 2025, the number of users increased by 13%. Tether even claims to have more than 400 million global users today.
Ardoino shared a meme from The Simpsons, depicting USDT as hot coffee that continues to be poured into a cup. It’s funny, but it describes the situation: even though the market is shaky, this stablecoin is still sought after.
