Tether Deploys Crosschain Stablecoin USDT0 on Optimism Superchain

The stablecoin sector is undergoing a significant expansion as industry leaders and blockchain networks work to broaden access to digital dollar assets. This week, Tether’s crosschain stablecoin, USDT0, launched on Optimism’s Superchain, strengthening stablecoin liquidity across Ethereum’s Layer-2 ecosystem. At the same time, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino declared that the industry is entering a new phase, which he described as the “stablecoin multiverse” era, marked by a growing number of stablecoin solutions emerging from both private companies and governments.

Tether’s Crosschain Stablecoin USDT0 Expands to Optimism’s Superchain, Boosting Ethereum L2 Adoption

Tether’s crosschain US-dollar stablecoin, USDT0, has been deployed to Optimism’s Superchain, a move poised to significantly increase access to the world’s most widely used stable asset across Ethereum’s Layer-2 ecosystem.

The deployment was officially announced by Optimism on March 27, marking a pivotal step in enhancing liquidity, DeFi participation, and crosschain interoperability for USDT0 holders.

USDT0 is a bridged, crosschain version of Tether’s flagship USDt stablecoin, specifically engineered to extend the stablecoin’s dominance beyond Ethereum’s mainnet to a broader range of Layer-2 (L2) and DeFi-focused blockchains. The asset made its debut in January 2025 on Ink Network, a Layer-2 protocol developed by crypto exchange giant Kraken, before making its way to the Superchain.

Optimism’s Superchain is an interconnected network of Ethereum Layer-2 chains built using Optimism’s OP Stack technology. It aims to address Ethereum’s scalability challenges by offering faster, cheaper, and interoperable blockspace. According to Superchain Health Dashboard data, the Superchain currently accounts for 52% of all Ethereum Layer-2 transactions, up from 36.6% in September 2024 — a sharp rise that reflects the growing confidence and utility of the network.

The inclusion of USDT0 is expected to further accelerate this growth, adding liquidity and seamless dollar-denominated trading to Optimism’s ecosystem.

The arrival of USDT0 on Superchain is more than just another stablecoin deployment; it is a strategic play in the broader Layer-2 adoption war. Ryan Wyatt, Optimism’s Chief Growth Officer, previously stated that he expects Superchain to account for 80% of Ethereum L2 transactions by the end of 2025. At the time of his statement in February, the Superchain ecosystem had locked in $4 billion in total value — a number that has since grown to $4.2 billion.

Stablecoins like USDT0 are often seen as the backbone of decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain-based payments, serving as the bridge between traditional finance and crypto-native ecosystems. Optimism noted that this deployment is expected to attract “more top-tier assets, applications, and partners” to its network, solidifying the Superchain’s position as a leading hub for DeFi innovation.

The timing of USDT0’s Superchain launch coincides with a broader surge in stablecoin adoption across the crypto landscape. According to data from RWA.xyz, the total value of stablecoins in circulation has ballooned to nearly $228 billion, marking a 3.3% increase over the past month. Stablecoins now boast a global user base of over 155 million holders, with Ethereum accounting for a dominant 58% share of the total stablecoin supply.

Tether’s USDt remains the undisputed market leader in the stablecoin sector, benefiting from its first-mover advantage and robust treasury reserves. In recent years, Tether has quietly become one of the largest holders of US Treasury securities, helping it generate record-breaking profits and cementing its dominance as the most trusted stable asset in the crypto economy.

The USDT0 deployment also comes at a time when stablecoins are increasingly at the center of US digital asset policy discussions. The return of Donald Trump to the US presidency has reignited efforts to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for stablecoins.

Recently, Bo Hines, the head of Trump’s Council on Digital Assets, revealed at a New York fintech conference that a stablecoin regulation bill could land on the president’s desk within the next two months. The legislation, if passed, is expected to provide clear legal parameters for stablecoins like USDt and USDT0, possibly accelerating institutional adoption and further integrating them into the US financial system.

The Future of USDT0 and Crosschain DeFi

USDT0’s expansion to Optimism’s Superchain signals a broader trend toward a multi-chain stablecoin economy, where users can access liquidity and dollar stability without being constrained by Ethereum’s mainnet fees or congestion.

The move signals the increasingly interoperable, scalable, and user-friendly future of decentralized finance, where stable assets like USDT0 can seamlessly power transactions, lending, trading, and yield-generating opportunities across diverse blockchain networks.

As the Superchain continues to solidify its position as Ethereum’s leading Layer-2 collective, and with stablecoin adoption showing no signs of slowing, Tether’s USDT0 may well become the cornerstone asset that bridges traditional financial value to the rapidly evolving decentralized economy.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino Declares Start of 'Stablecoin Multiverse' as Industry Enters New Growth Phase

In related news, the stablecoin sector is entering a new phase of rapid expansion, according to Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. In a recent social media post, Ardoino described the current market as the beginning of the ”Stablecoin Multiverse” era, signaling a shift toward increased diversification and widespread adoption of stablecoins by both private companies and sovereign governments.

In an X thread published on March 27, Ardoino emphasized that global demand for stable digital currencies is surging, and the industry is responding with a proliferation of new stablecoin solutions.

The Tether CEO’s comments arrive at a time when both governments and corporations around the world are exploring or actively developing their own fiat-pegged digital currencies. Ardoino believes this trend marks the start of a new chapter for the cryptocurrency industry, one where stablecoins become the primary tool for cross-border payments, decentralized finance (DeFi), and crypto-native transactions.

Tether itself has been at the forefront of this movement. Its flagship product, USDt, is the world’s most widely used stablecoin, with a current market capitalization of over $100 billion and more than 400 million users globally, according to Ardoino. He also expressed confidence that this user base could soon surpass one billion, as demand accelerates in underbanked regions and emerging markets.

While Ardoino’s declaration of a new stablecoin era has generated significant buzz, not everyone in the crypto space agrees with his assessment.

Slava Demchuk, CEO of crypto compliance firm AMLBot, said that Ardoino’s comments exaggerate the current state of the market. Demchuk pointed out that launching a compliant, regulated stablecoin is far more difficult than it may appear.

He argued that while stablecoin innovation is growing, the idea of a ”multiverse” crowded with hundreds of new stablecoins is not yet reality.

Demchuk also warned that regulatory fragmentation is creating uncertainty in the sector. While MiCA provides clear guidelines in the European Union, the United States is still struggling to implement comprehensive stablecoin regulations. This regulatory patchwork could drive some stablecoin issuers to operate in less regulated jurisdictions, potentially undermining consumer protections and increasing risks related to illicit finance.

Challenges in Europe and the US

Tether’s USDt has recently faced challenges in major markets. In particular, several major crypto exchanges — including Binance, Crypto.com, Kraken, and Coinbase — delisted USDt for users in the European Economic Area (EEA) in response to MiCA compliance requirements.

Vasily Vidmanov, Chief Operating Officer of decentralized finance compliance protocol PureFi, said that Ardoino’s projection of one billion users is ”interesting but not entirely realistic” in the current environment. He pointed to Tether's delisting in Europe as a major obstacle.

Data tracked by Dune Analytics also reveals an increase in USDT-to-USDC swaps following the delisting, suggesting that users in Europe are shifting toward Circle’s USDC, which has taken a more regulatory-friendly approach in global markets.

Adding to Tether’s challenges are ongoing investigations in the US related to compliance with sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations. US authorities have reportedly been probing the use of Tether’s stablecoins in illicit activities through third-party platforms. While Ardoino previously dismissed these reports as ”old noise,” reputational risks remain a concern for the firm.