16 December 2025 – Tether, the largest company in the digital assets industry, announced today that it has made a strategic investment in Speed1, Inc. (“Speed”), a payments infrastructure company building instant, global settlement rails using the Bitcoin Lightning Network and stablecoins. Tether led the company’s $8 million funding round together with ego death capital.
Speed processes more than $1.5 billion in annual payment volume across consumers, creators, platforms, and enterprise merchants. Its products (Speed Wallet and Speed Merchant) serve 1.2 million users and businesses, offering instant payments, native BTC and USDT settlement, and high-reliability global routing for enterprise integrations.
Tether’s investment supports its broader strategy to strengthen Bitcoin-aligned financial infrastructure and expand USDT’s utility in real-world payment environments. Speed’s architecture demonstrates how Lightning and stablecoins can operate together to move money at high scale with low fees, strong compliance, and global reach.
“Speed is showing what Lightning can achieve when paired with a stable, liquid digital dollar like USDT,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “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.
Speed integrates tightly with the Lightning Network while enabling stablecoin settlement for users and merchants who require price stability. This combination reduces friction for cross-border transactions, creator payouts, merchant payments, and platform-level settlement.
About Tether Investments
Tether Investments is the independent investment arm of Tether, the largest company in the digital assets industry. Based in El Salvador, the firm deploys capital from Tether’s profits and excess reserves across a wide range of sectors where technology, infrastructure, and real-world utility intersect.
Its portfolio includes investments in artificial intelligence, financial services, energy, biotechnology, education, and digital media, as well as strategic stakes in industries such as commodities, remittances, and sports and entertainment. Tether Investments supports ventures with long-term potential to improve access, efficiency, and resilience in both emerging and developed markets. Its work supports Tether Group’s broader mission to strengthen decentralized systems, promote infrastructure resilience, and expand real-world access to open, transparent technologies.