Catenaa, Tuesday, February 17, 2026-Issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin Tether made a strategic investment in LayerZero Labs, the developer of the interoperability protocol behind USDT0, enabling broader cross-chain operations for Tether’s tokens.
LayerZero’s technology underpins the omnichain version of Tether’s USDT, known as USDT0, which allows the stablecoin to operate on blockchains where it is not natively issued.
USDT0 maintains a 1:1 backing with USDT and has facilitated over $70 billion in cross-chain transfers since its launch in early 2025, according to Tether.
The investment aims to expand infrastructure for digital asset interoperability, supporting real-time cross-chain transfers and providing a foundation for AI-driven wallets and autonomous stablecoin transactions.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino highlighted that LayerZero’s protocol allows digital assets to move seamlessly across distributed ledgers and transport layers, creating utility for financial services and decentralized operations.
Tether has been actively diversifying its investment portfolio. Last week, it invested in t-0 network, a USDT-powered settlement platform for regulated financial institutions, and earlier committed $150 million to Gold.com, a direct-to-consumer marketplace.
The company did not disclose the financial terms of its LayerZero investment.
Tether’s backing of LayerZero signals continued expansion of its cross-chain and interoperability capabilities, reinforcing USDT’s role as the leading USD-pegged stablecoin in both traditional and decentralized finance markets.
