Tether to issue USDT on Bitcoin in October via Tether-backed project Utexo
Utexo, a Tether-backed project, plans to start issuing USDT on Bitcoin in October with private transfers, direct BTC swaps and bitcoin-backed loans.
Why it matters
USDT would return to Bitcoin's base layer under a privacy model that differs from its Ethereum and Tron deployments, with compliance resting on a UTXO blacklist rather than address freezes. The license also gives Utexo a commercial role supplying the software that exchanges, wallets and payment providers need to offer Bitcoin-based USDT products, while no source reports a firm launch date, a named listing venue or any change in USDT issuance.
Where the sources disagree
Whether an earlier USDT-on-Bitcoin attempt came before the Utexo launch
This deployment follows Tether's previous effort to re-enter Bitcoin with USDT via RGB
CoinGape
October marks USDT's return to Bitcoin, with Omni issuance running from 2014 until it stopped in 2023
CoinDesk, Bitcoin Insider, Crypto.News, CoinGape
CoinGape calls the Utexo rollout a follow-up to a prior Tether effort to bring USDT to Bitcoin via RGB, while CoinDesk, Bitcoin Insider and Crypto.News describe October as USDT's return to Bitcoin after it left Omni in 2014.
Key facts
Utexo plans to start issuing USDT on Bitcoin in October.
Reported by CoinDesk
Utexo holds a commercial license from Tether to issue USDT on Bitcoin and use Tether's trademark for distribution to exchanges, wallets and payment providers, co-founder Viktor Ihnatiuk said.
Reported by Crypto.News
Utexo plans three services: private USDT transfers, direct swaps between BTC and USDT, and loans backed by native bitcoin.
Reported by CoinDesk
Borrowers would be able to post native bitcoin as collateral without wrapping it in tokens such as WBTC.
Reported by Crypto.News
USDT transfers would run over the RGB protocol, tying ownership to Bitcoin's unspent transaction outputs and keeping most payment information off the public ledger.
Reported by Crypto.News
Bitcoin mainnet comes first, with Lightning Network support planned for a later stage.
Reported by CoinDesk
Utexo would blacklist individual UTXOs linked to sanctioned or illicit activity instead of freezing addresses.
Reported by CoinDesk
USDT began issuing on Bitcoin on the Omni protocol in 2014 before Ethereum and later Tron became its primary networks, and Tether stopped issuing on Omni in 2023.
Disputed figureReported by CoinDesk
What happened
Tether will begin issuing USDT on Bitcoin in October through Utexo, a Tether-backed project that holds a commercial license to issue the stablecoin on Bitcoin and distribute it under Tether's trademark, co-founder Viktor Ihnatiuk said. Utexo plans private USDT transfers, direct swaps between BTC and USDT and loans backed by native bitcoin, so borrowers would not have to wrap their holdings. Transfers would run over the RGB protocol, which ties USDT ownership to Bitcoin's unspent transaction outputs and keeps most payment details off the public ledger, starting on Bitcoin mainnet with Lightning Network support planned for a later stage. USDT first issued on Bitcoin on the Omni protocol in 2014 before Ethereum and later Tron became its primary networks, and Tether stopped issuing on Omni in 2023. On sanctions, CoinDesk reports Utexo would blacklist individual UTXOs tied to sanctioned or illicit activity rather than freeze addresses, and BTC-ECHO notes the same limit on freezing. CoinGape alone reports the launch follows an earlier Tether attempt to bring USDT to Bitcoin via RGB, and no outlet gives a firm first day or a named exchange venue for the October start.
How the story developed
- First report
First report by CoinDesk
Tether's USDT is 'coming home' to Bitcoin this month over a decade after debut there
- Update
USDT's first Bitcoin issuance begins on the Omni protocol
Tether issued USDT on Omni in 2014, then moved most activity to Ethereum and Tron.
- Official statement
Tether CEO teases the return on X
Paolo Ardoino posted 'It's coming home', which CoinDesk dates to the week before publication and CoinGape to September.
- Update
CoinDesk reports the October issuance plan
First report in the set, describing private transfers, BTC swaps, BTC-backed loans and Lightning support after launch.
- Independent corroboration
Independently corroborated by CoinGape
Tether Brings USDT to Bitcoin With Private Transfers and Direct Swaps
- Update
Tether stops issuing USDT on Omni
CoinGape reports issuance on Omni ended in 2023 as USDT activity moved elsewhere.
- Update
Funding round for Utexo announced in March
Crypto.News reports Tether co-led the round alongside two other investment firms; CoinDesk dates the funding to earlier in the year.
- Update
Crypto.News quotes Utexo co-founder on the license and rollout
Viktor Ihnatiuk said Utexo has a commercial license to issue USDT on Bitcoin and use the trademark for distribution.
How coverage built up
Independent sources over time, counted the way the consensus panel counts them: a republication of a wire story does not move the line.
- 2 Oct 2026, 08:28 UTC: CoinDesk — 1 independent source, 1 reports
- 2 Oct 2026, 10:01 UTC: Bitcoin Insider — 2 independent sources, 2 reports
- 2 Oct 2026, 12:48 UTC: CoinGape — 3 independent sources, 3 reports
- 2 Oct 2026, 15:25 UTC: BTC-ECHO — 4 independent sources, 4 reports
- 2 Oct 2026, 16:48 UTC: Crypto.News — 5 independent sources, 5 reports
Affected entities
Also mentioned: USD Coin, Circle, Base
Original sources
| Publisher | Report | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| CoinDesk Crypto media | Tether's USDT is 'coming home' to Bitcoin this month over a decade after debut there | Original | |
| BTC-ECHO Crypto media | Bitcoin und Tether finden wieder zusammen – mehr als zehn Jahre später | Independent | |
| Crypto.News Crypto media | Tether’s USDT eyes Bitcoin return as Utexo plans October launch | Independent | |
| CoinGape Crypto media | Tether Brings USDT to Bitcoin With Private Transfers and Direct Swaps | Independent | |
| Bitcoin Insider Aggregator | Tether’s USDT Set to Return to the Bitcoin Network This Month | Syndicated |
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