Catenaa, Monday, May 25, 2026- Tether has invested in remittance fintech LemFi to expand USDT-powered cross-border settlements across Africa and Asia, deepening the stablecoin issuer’s push into global payment infrastructure and emerging markets.
The companies said LemFi will integrate Tether’s USDT stablecoin settlement rails into its payment systems to reduce dependence on traditional banking networks such as SWIFT.
The investment amount was not disclosed.
LemFi, a Y Combinator-backed fintech founded in 2021, said it has raised about $85 million and serves more than one million customers globally.
Under the partnership, USDT will operate as a settlement layer across major remittance corridors where LemFi provides money transfer services.
Paolo Ardoino said the partnership reflects a shared goal of improving the speed, cost and transparency of international payments.
LemFi primarily targets migrant workers and overseas communities seeking cheaper and faster remittance services compared with traditional banking channels.
The deal highlights growing competition among stablecoin issuers to expand real-world payment distribution, particularly in regions where banking access remains limited and international transfers often carry high fees and long settlement times.
Stablecoins such as USDT are increasingly being used as digital settlement infrastructure rather than purely speculative crypto assets.
Ridwan Olalere said integrating USDT into the platform would help deliver more reliable financial services for customers relying on cross-border payments.
Africa and parts of Asia have emerged as major growth regions for crypto-powered remittances as inflation, currency volatility and banking inefficiencies continue driving demand for alternative payment rails.
The partnership also reflects broader efforts by stablecoin firms to challenge legacy financial networks through blockchain-based settlement systems operating around the clock.
