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A powerful documentary on how Bitcoin and blockchain are reshaping money, power, and geopolitics—from El Salvador’s Bitcoin experiment and Europe’s regulatory revolution to the rise of decentralized finance and the new global financial order.
The face of cryptocurrency adoption is changing, moving from speculative charts to the real economy. According to data released today by Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, and based on analysis by Chainalysis and Artemis, in 2025 USDT processed as much as $156 billion in transactions worth $1,000 or less.
This record figure highlights how the world's most widely used stablecoin is becoming a mainstay of everyday payments, overcoming the narrative that sees it only as a tool for trading.
Small-denomination transfers have been growing steadily since 2020, accelerating in the 2024-2025 biennium, with average daily volumes for "sub-$1,000" transactions now surpassing the $500 million mark.
An Alternative to Traditional Banking Systems
The figure reflects a massive use of USDT for non-speculative purposes: remittances, salary payments, retail purchases and peer-to-peer transfers, especially in emerging markets. In regions where access to the dollar is limited or excessively expensive, USDT now serves as a digital substitute for cash and bank transfers.
This evolution towards a 'digital payment network' is also supported by the growth in the circulating supply of USDT, which hit new all-time highs in 2025. Tether is also enhancing its infrastructure through investments in Lightning Network-based solutions, aiming for even faster and cheaper settlement.
The Regulatory Framework: GENIUS Act and MiCA
The year 2025 was also a turning point on the regulatory front. In the US, the GENIUS Act finally provided a clear legal framework for payment stablecoins, increasing institutional trust. In contrast, in Europe, the entry into force of the MiCA regulation introduced stricter licensing requirements. Although this has caused a shift of some regulated activities away from USDT, it has not curbed global on-chain use of the currency.
In summary, the $156 billion in small payments demonstrates that true cryptocurrency adoption in 2025 is through utility and financial resilience. USDT is no longer just 'plumbing' for exchanges, but an essential resource for global access to the dollar.
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