Tether invests in Ark Labs to make Bitcoin ready for stablecoins and payments
Analysis
Price Impact
MedTether's investment in ark labs aims to enhance bitcoin's functionality for stablecoin transactions, which could increase demand for usdt and potentially boost bitcoin's utility as a payment network. however, the success of arkade is still unproven.
Trustworthiness
MedTether is a major player in the stablecoin market, and its strategic investments carry weight. ark labs' focus on bitcoin infrastructure is also a relevant development. however, the technology is new and its actual impact remains to be seen.
Price Direction
BullishThis development could lead to greater adoption of stablecoins on the bitcoin network, increasing transaction volume and potentially driving up the value of both bitcoin and usdt as they become more integrated into payment systems.
Time Effect
LongThe full impact of integrating stablecoins and enhanced payment capabilities onto the bitcoin blockchain is likely to take a significant amount of time to materialize and gain widespread adoption.
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Finance Share Share this article Copy link X icon X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook Email Tether invests in Ark Labs to make Bitcoin ready for stablecoins and payments The issuer behind the USDT stablecoin joined a $5.2 million funding round for Ark Labs, backing software that could let stablecoins move and settle on Bitcoin rails. By Krisztian Sandor | Edited by Aoyon Ashraf Mar 12, 2026, 1:19 p.m. Make us preferred on Google Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino (Modified by CoinDesk) What to know : Tether invested in Ark Labs in a $5.2 million funding round focused on programmable infrastructure for the Bitcoin blockchain. The project aims to enable stablecoins, such as Tether's USDT, to move and settle directly on the Bitcoin rails. Tether issues the most popular U.S. dollar stablecoin, seen as increasingly used as an alternative for payments and savings in emerging markets. Tether, the crypto firm behind the most popular stablecoin USDT, said Thursday it has invested in Ark Labs to bring programmable payments to the Bitcoin network. The backing formed part of a $5.2 million funding round for the startup. Ark Labs develops Arkade, a system that aims to allow faster transactions and application building on top of Bitcoin. With the new funding, the start-up said it has raised about $7.7 million in total. The project focuses on making Bitcoin usable for payments and financial tools that often require faster settlement and automation. Arkade acts as an execution layer that developers can use to build services such as payment networks, lending tools and digital asset platforms. "Bitcoin is the most liquid digital asset in the world, but it has lacked the programmable infrastructure that financial applications require," said Marco Argentieri, CEO of Ark Labs. "Arkade aims to change that," he added. Tether said the funding will help expand infrastructure that could support stablecoins on Bitcoin. Stablecoins are digital tokens pegged to fiat currencies such as the U.S. dollar and often move across other blockchains like Ethereum or Tron. "Stablecoins were born on Bitcoin, and expanding access on the Bitcoin network remains a priority for us," Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said in a statement. The investment is part of Tether's effort to expand beyond its stablecoin issuance roots and enhance the use of its $185 billion digital dollar token USDT. Last month, the firm invested in online marketplace Whop and cross-chain protocol LayerZero . Tether Stablecoins Bitcoin News More For You Crypto accounting firm Cryptio raises $45 million in Series B funding round By Francisco Rodrigues , AI Boost | Edited by Sheldon Reback 30 minutes ago The company's platform tracks digital assets, storage locations and crypto loans, enabling financial institutions and corporations to produce accounting records and financial reports. What to know : Cryptio raised $45 million in Series B funding from BlackFin Capital Partners and Sentinel Global, reflecting increased institutional demand for digital asset accounting software. The company valuation was not reported. The funding aligns with accelerating U.S. corporate adoption of crypto and recent regulatory changes that have eased barriers for institutions. Read full story Latest Crypto News CoinDesk 20 performance update: Polkadot (DOT) drops 2.3% as index trades lower 4 minutes ago Crypto accounting firm Cryptio raises $45 million in Series B funding round 30 minutes ago BlackRock debuts staked ether ETF as demand grows for yield in crypto funds 1 hour ago Bitcoin futures trading is now five times bigger than spot on Binance 2 hours ago Bitcoin looks resilient, but don't ignore those $20,000 puts 2 hours ago Strategy’s STRC buys an estimated 7,000 bitcoin this week, but Two Prime CEO warns ‘no free lunch’ 2 hours ago Top Stories Bitcoin steady near $70,000 as rising open interest hints at cautious, bearish positioning 2 hours ago Crypto code commits fall 75% as developers move to AI projects 6 hours ago Bitcoin climbs the wall of worry amid escalating Iran war and stock market losses 2 hours ago Bonk.fun hacked: Domain hijacked, crypto drainer planted 8 hours ago SEC, CFTC end years of rivalry with deal that will mean combined crypto oversight 14 hours ago This startup wants to tokenize crude oil trading – and it's gearing up for a 2027 launch 6 hours ago