Utexo Bets on Privacy to Bring USDT Back to Bitcoin

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure TLDR Dubai-based startup Utexo plans to relaunch Tether’s USDT on Bitcoin using the RGB protocol, with a public launch set for November 28. Lightning Network support is expected in the first quarter of 2027. The project faces a market where roughly $300 billion in stablecoins already sits on Ethereum, Tron and other networks. Bridge risk and limited DeFi support remain the main hurdles. Why USDT Is Returning to Bitcoin USDT first appeared on Bitcoin in 2014 through the Omni protocol. Tether ended issuance there in August 2023, blaming falling usage. The company later floated an RGB-based launch in 2025, but it never materialized. Now Utexo is taking up the task. Tether led the startup’s $7.5 million seed round in March, and the new version will rely on Tether’s USDT0 protocol. CEO Viktor Ihnatiuk argues two things have changed: speed and privacy. Bitcoin acts as the settlement layer, while RGB keeps transaction details off the public blockchain. He claims Lightning payments can settle in around 100 milliseconds. How RGB and Lightning Fit Together RGB, in development since 2016, lets ...