Tether to Launch GELT Stablecoin in Georgia With Government Support

Tether has announced plans to launch GELT, a new stablecoin pegged to the Georgian lari, as the company expands its push into jurisdiction-specific digital currencies backed by local regulatory frameworks.

According to the company, the project is being developed with support from the Georgian government and is intended to serve as a blockchain-based digital representation of Georgia’s national currency.

The stablecoin initiative reflects the growing role governments and digital asset firms are beginning to play together in building regulated blockchain-based payment infrastructure.

GELT Aims to Support Faster Payments and Cross-Border Commerce

Tether said GELT is designed to support lower transaction costs, faster settlement speeds, and programmable financial transactions across both domestic and international markets.

The company added that the stablecoin is expected to support cross-border commerce, digital payments, and broader access to blockchain-based financial infrastructure throughout Georgia and neighboring regions.

According to Tether, Georgia’s evolving digital asset framework was built with “substantive compatibility” in mind with emerging US stablecoin regulation, including the proposed GENIUS Act.

The development highlights how smaller jurisdictions are increasingly attempting to position themselves as early adopters of regulated stablecoin infrastructure while larger economies continue debating broader crypto regulation.

Georgian Government Signals Support for Digital Asset Expansion

Irakli Kobakhidze said the partnership reflects Georgia’s ambition to become more digitally connected through financial innovation and blockchain technology.

He stated that collaborations with companies such as Tether could help establish the foundation for a more transparent and technologically advanced financial ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Paolo Ardoino said stablecoins are increasingly evolving beyond niche crypto products and becoming part of the underlying infrastructure layer of global finance.

Ardoino added that Georgia’s willingness to establish clearer digital asset regulations creates an environment more capable of supporting real-world adoption and long-term innovation.

Tether said additional details regarding GELT’s structure, implementation timeline, and regulatory rollout will be disclosed later.

Tether Expands Strategy Around Local Fiat Stablecoins

The planned launch of GELT forms part of Tether’s broader strategy of developing stablecoins tied to regional fiat currencies and jurisdiction-specific markets.

In 2022, the company introduced MXNT, a stablecoin pegged to the Mexican peso, which remains active today.

Tether had also previously launched EURT, a euro-backed stablecoin, though the product was later phased out following regulatory changes in Europe, with redemptions ending in late 2025.

Earlier this year, Tether also launched USAT as part of efforts to expand further into the US market following the passage of stablecoin legislation linked to the GENIUS Act.

While Tether’s flagship stablecoin Tether remains the dominant dollar-backed stablecoin globally with a market capitalization of roughly $189 billion, the product itself is not currently available to US retail users.

Stablecoins Continue Expanding Into National Financial Infrastructure

The GELT initiative reflects a broader global trend in which stablecoins are increasingly being viewed as part of future financial infrastructure rather than purely crypto trading tools.

Governments and financial institutions across multiple regions are exploring blockchain-based fiat systems capable of improving payment efficiency, settlement speed, and digital commerce integration.

For countries such as Georgia, partnerships with major stablecoin issuers may also offer an opportunity to position themselves earlier within the evolving digital finance landscape as competition intensifies around blockchain-powered payment systems and tokenized financial infrastructure.