Users can now pay network fees using the asset they are transferring, removing the requirement to hold separate gas tokens. This is part of the launch of tether.wallet, a self-custodial mobile app that supports Bitcoin, USDT, USAT, and XAUT. The app replaces complex wallet addresses with human-readable usernames such as [email protected] to simplify digital payments.
To support these transactions, the wallet operates across Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, and the Bitcoin Lightning Network. While the app is fully non-custodial—meaning transactions are signed locally on the device and private keys remain under user control—it introduces a cloud backup option for private keys. Tether has not yet clarified if this backup feature can be disabled.
Until now, most users interacted with Tether's infrastructure, which currently reaches 570 million people worldwide, indirectly through exchanges or third-party platforms. By providing a direct touchpoint, Tether is shifting from its role as a backend infrastructure provider to a direct consumer-facing platform.
