TLDR

  • Tether has partnered with Opera to integrate USDT and Tether Gold support into the MiniPay wallet application, targeting users in emerging markets.
  • MiniPay operates in 60 countries, boasts 12.6 million active wallets, and has processed 350 million transactions.
  • In December, over $153 million was transacted via MiniPay, indicating substantial demand for dollar-denominated payments.
  • Tether is launching MiningOS, an open-source operating system for Bitcoin mining, available under the Apache 2.0 License.
  • MiningOS is designed to be scalable for operations ranging from personal setups to industrial facilities, eliminating the need for costly third-party vendor reliance.

Stablecoin issuer Tether announced two significant initiatives on Monday, aimed at broadening financial accessibility and enhancing Bitcoin mining infrastructure. The company is incorporating its USDT stablecoin and Tether Gold into Opera’s MiniPay wallet application. Concurrently, Tether unveiled MiningOS, an open-source operating system tailored for Bitcoin miners.

The MiniPay integration is specifically aimed at users in developing regions across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. The wallet application, built on the Celo blockchain, only requires a mobile phone number for activation. It is accessible on both Android and iOS devices.

MiniPay Wallet Expansion

MiniPay currently operates in 60 nations globally. The platform has accumulated 12.6 million activated wallets and has processed a total of 350 million transactions. The wallet experienced a 50% user increase in the fourth quarter of 2024, with the majority of new users originating from emerging markets.

In December alone, transactions exceeding $153 million were conducted through the MiniPay app. These figures highlight a growing appetite for stable, dollar-denominated payments in regions where mobile technology is prevalent. Users can now utilize USDT for savings and transfers, and Tether Gold (XAUT) for savings resistant to inflation.

CEO Paolo Ardoino stated that the company’s objective is to offer straightforward and dependable access to stable value for those who need it most. The tokenized gold asset, XAUT, reached an all-time high of $5,600 in late January, mirroring movements in the spot gold markets.

XAUT possesses a circulating supply of 712,747 tokens, with a market capitalization of $3.4 billion, according to CoinGecko data. This real-world asset provides users with digital exposure to physical gold reserves.

While demand remains robust in emerging markets, broader stablecoin metrics reveal differing trends. The total stablecoin market capitalization began to decline in December, following two years of growth. Net stablecoin inflows to exchanges have turned negative, with over $4 billion in outflows.

CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost observed that recent months indicate an increase in risk aversion. More recent market participants have opted to withdraw their stablecoins from exchanges. The wider crypto market has seen a 38% decrease since reaching a total market cap peak of $4.4 trillion in October.

Open-Source Mining Software Release

Tether also announced the launch of MiningOS on Monday. This open-source mining software is designed to cater to a diverse range of users, from individual enthusiasts to large-scale institutions. The modular and scalable operating system aims to streamline Bitcoin mining operations.

The company initially revealed its plans for the mining OS in June of the previous year. Tether indicated that the goal was to enable new Bitcoin miners to enter the market without relying on expensive third-party vendors. MiningOS is released under the Apache 2.0 License, making it free for use, development, and enhancement.

The software offers a self-hosted mining architecture that facilitates communication between devices via an integrated peer-to-peer network. An accompanying platform allows miners to customize settings based on their operational scale and output requirements. CEO Paolo Ardoino noted that MiningOS can be scaled from a home setup to industrial-grade sites across multiple geographical locations.

MiningOS is built upon Holepunch P2P protocols. According to Tether, this ensures the absence of centralized services, backdoors, and third-party dependencies. The software is engineered for compatibility with a broad spectrum of mining infrastructure.

Jack Dorsey’s Block also introduced an open-source Bitcoin mining stack. However, Block’s software is specifically designed to function with its proprietary mining hardware. Tether’s approach, in contrast, permits wider compatibility across various equipment types.

The release of MiningOS signifies Tether’s ongoing expansion beyond its stablecoin offerings. The company made several investments throughout 2025 in sectors including tokenization, artificial intelligence, and decentralized finance. Tether has also increased its holdings of both gold and Bitcoin.