⚡️Stablecoins Are Coming to Bitcoin’s Lightning Network — And It Could Be a Big Deal

[nihalsari]

If you thought Lightning Network was just for speedy BTC payments, think again.

Industry experts now believe we’re about to witness a stablecoin surge on Bitcoin’s layer-2 — potentially handling 5% of global stablecoin volume by 2028. That’s a lot of zeroes: with current volumes around $180B daily, we’re talking $9B on Lightning using today's figures.

Here’s why this matters — and what’s actually going on behind the scenes:
🧪 Stablecoins + Lightning = The Next Big Crypto Combo?

Graham Krizek, CEO of Lightning Network payments firm Voltage, told Cointelegraph he’s confident we’re on the edge of a major shift. Even though stablecoin volume on LN is basically non-existent right now, he thinks we’ll see it ramp up fast, especially with players like Tether and Circle finally getting involved.

In fact, Tether announced native Lightning support for USDT earlier this year. Plus, Lightning Labs just dropped Taproot Assets v0.6, which basically turns Bitcoin’s Lightning into a mini forex network for stablecoins.

And yeah, this isn’t just talk — big exchanges and platforms are already building support.
🧑‍ Who’s Driving Adoption?

According to Krizek, it's a full-on bottom-up movement:

Developers are building new Lightning tools for all kinds of “edge cases.”

Retail users are testing and demanding Lightning from businesses.

Exchanges like Cash App are all-in — 25% of their BTC payments now go through Lightning.

Institutions are waking up too, drawn in by instant settlement, reduced counterparty risk, and lower chargebacks.

Basically, the “too early” excuse is getting weaker by the day.
State of the Lightning Network Right Now

Let’s talk numbers:

🟢 14,000+ nodes

🔄 44,800 channels

💰 3,820 BTC capacity (≈ $448M)

📉 Network capacity has dropped 23% this year, but...

💡 Capital efficiency is up — fewer, larger channels are forming

And here’s a wild one: access to Lightning-enabled apps has topped 700 million users worldwide, doubling over the last year. That includes exchanges, wallets, payment apps, and neo-banks.
️ Why This Actually Matters

If Lightning becomes the go-to settlement layer for stablecoins, it could:

Supercharge global crypto remittances

Make Lightning more than just a Bitcoin rail

Reduce costs for merchants and users

Force exchanges and wallets to adapt — or fall behind

And with new U.S. stablecoin regulations (like the GENIUS Act) on the horizon, the timing couldn’t be better.
🧠 Final Thought

Lightning was designed to scale Bitcoin — but it might end up scaling much more. Stablecoins on Lightning could finally bring speed, affordability, and usability into the same room. If you’re a dev, business, or investor... it’s probably time to plug in.

Are you using Lightning? Would you use it for stablecoins? Let's hear it below
#BTC #crypto #coin #USDT #stablecoin #tether

[jacson4]

This is a pivotal moment for crypto infrastructure. Tether’s USDT and possibly USDC are now being issued directly over Bitcoin’s Lightning Network using the Taproot Assets (Taro) protocol—as announced by Lightning Labs and Tether in early 2025
Voltage+11Lightning Engineering+11Bitcoin Magazine+11
. While stablecoin activity on Lightning is currently near zero, industry leaders like Voltage predict the network could handle 5% of all global stablecoin volume by 2028, which would translate to billions per day
Bitcoin Magazine+7Cointelegraph+7Bitget+7
. If this takes off, it merges Bitcoin’s security model with stablecoin stability, unlocking use cases like ultra-cheap remittances, micropayments, payroll, and e-commerce at scale

[Nahid10]

Promising innovation, but hurdles remain. Building stablecoin functionality on Lightning is technically feasible, thanks to Taro and partner tools (Voltage, Lightning Labs infrastructure) AInvest Bitget+5The Cryptonomist+5Lightning Engineering+5. But there are challenges: routing liquidity, user experience managing Lightning channels, and navigating uncertain regulations around stablecoins and onboarding protocolsen.wikipedia.org+15Bitget+15Bitcoin Magazine+15. Even so, this move aligns with broader trends—stablecoin payments now have a formal regulatory framework via the GENIUS Act in the U.S., paving the way for legitimate real-world adoption bloomingbit+2politico.com+2Cointelegraph+2. It’s a high-upside scenario, but execution matters