Tether Expands USAT on Celo in Bid for Separate US Infrastructure

Tether has expanded its US-compliant stablecoin, USAT, to Celo, giving it a second blockchain after its Ethereum debut in January 2026. This move advances Tether's separate infrastructure strategy for American and global markets.

USAT remains far smaller than the dominant USDT, with a market value of about $185 million against roughly $180 billion. However, Tether designed USAT specifically for the changing US regulatory framework.

Celo focuses on stablecoin payments, making it a direct distribution channel for USAT. The deployment also extends the token beyond its original Ethereum base. Celo handled about 28% of all cross-chain USDT transfers as of July 29, 2026, giving USAT access to an established stablecoin network.

USDT and USAT target different markets, with Tether's global product dominating international cryptocurrency markets despite not fully aligning with the new American regulatory framework. Anchorage Digital Bank issues USAT instead of Tether, operating under federal supervision and connecting the project with a long-established Wall Street institution.