Tether has invested in Bolivian fintech startup Peso as the stablecoin issuer works to broaden USDT-based payments in South America. Peso provides payment infrastructure that connects USDT with local banking rails and merchant payment tools in Bolivia.
The move comes as stablecoin demand has increased in Bolivia over the past year, with the country facing a dollar shortage and inflation. At the same time, Bolivian authorities are still reviewing rules that could widen the role of USDT in payments, savings and trade, while stopping short of making it legal tender.
Peso ties USDT to local payment channels
Peso has rolled out USDT payments for Yango, a food delivery service operating in Bolivia, allowing customers to pay for orders with the stablecoin. The company also supports merchant acceptance through QR payments and point-of-sale terminals.
Beyond checkout tools, Peso offers virtual accounts linked to Bolivia’s banking system through ACH transfers. That infrastructure is designed to bridge USDT with local financial services rather than keep stablecoin transactions separate from existing payment networks.
Bolivia has seen rising interest in stablecoins
Demand for stablecoins in Bolivia has grown since last year, according to the source article, as the country has dealt with both inflation and a shortage of U.S. dollars. Those conditions have helped drive interest in alternatives tied to the dollar.
Policy discussions have also moved forward. In November last year, the government announced an integrated financial system plan that would let banks provide digital-asset custody and crypto-linked financial products.
Rules for broader USDT use are still under review
In July, authorities began examining a regulatory framework that would allow USDT to be used alongside the boliviano and the dollar for payments, savings and trade. The proposal had not been finalized at the time of the report.
That distinction remains important: while officials are considering broader use cases, USDT has not been adopted as legal tender in Bolivia. Tether’s investment in Peso therefore arrives while the operating environment is still evolving.
Regional stablecoin activity is widening
The same day, USDT-related expansion in South America was also visible in another segment of the market: lending. Tala, a lending platform, said it had partnered with digital wallet El Dorado to launch a USDT lending service built on the Tempo blockchain.
Taken together, the developments point to a wider push to place USDT into day-to-day financial activity across the region, from merchant payments to lending products. In Bolivia, the next confirmed step is the completion of the regulatory review that could define how broadly the token may be used alongside existing currencies.
Source: en.bloomingbit.io