Tether and the Government of Georgia plan to launch GEL₮, a stablecoin representing the Georgian lari.
Summary
- Tether and Georgia plan GEL₮ as a digital version of the Georgian lari for payments.
- GEL₮ will target lower transaction costs, fast settlement, programmable payments, and cross-border digital transfers.
- Georgia’s framework covers reserves, redemption rights, issuer oversight, AML rules, and U.S. rule alignment.
In a Monday announcement, Tether said the project would place Georgia’s national currency on digital asset rails under a purpose-built stablecoin framework.
The company said GEL₮ is designed for lower transaction costs, near-instant settlement, programmable payments, and digital value transfers. Further details on the token’s structure, rollout, and regulatory setup will be announced later.
Georgia targets lari-backed stablecoin payments
GEL₮ is expected to support digital payments, cross-border commerce, fintech products, and value transfers across Georgia and the wider region. Tether said the token will work as a digital version of the Georgian lari, not a dollar-backed asset.
The move comes as stablecoins keep growing as payment and settlement tools. Tether said USD₮ has a market capitalization approaching $190 billion, while crypto.news market data recently placed USDT’s market cap near $189.5 billion.
Georgia has already supported digital asset payments in some public finance use cases. Tether said the country allows tax payments through instant conversion of digital assets into local currency.
Tether builds on earlier Georgia activity
The GEL₮ plan follows years of Tether activity in Georgia. In 2023, Tether signed an MoU with the Georgian government to support Bitcoin, web3, and peer-to-peer infrastructure development in the country.
That earlier agreement included support for local web3 startups through grants and investments. Crypto.news reported at the time that the effort was aimed at building Georgia’s blockchain startup base and drawing more international collaboration.
Tether has also invested in Georgia’s payments market through CityPay.io. The company said in 2023 that CityPay.io was active in more than 600 locations across Georgia, including shops, hotels, and restaurants.
In 2024, Tether added another investment into CityPay.io to support expansion across Eastern Europe. The company said CityPay.io planned e-wallet and card products and targeted over 500,000 crypto payment points in the region.
Stablecoin rules shape the GEL₮ launch
Georgia’s stablecoin framework covers reserve management, redemption rights, issuer oversight, and anti-money-laundering compliance, according to Tether. The company said the framework was also designed for substantive compatibility with emerging U.S. rules, including the GENIUS Act.
That regulatory angle matters because stablecoin rules are changing across major markets. Crypto.news reported that U.S. banking groups recently asked regulators to pause three GENIUS Act rulemaking comment periods until the OCC finishes its main stablecoin framework.
Meanwhile, the GENIUS Act is scheduled to take effect no later than Jan. 18, 2027. It also noted that proposed rules cover issuer standards, state oversight, and anti-money-laundering requirements.
Officials frame GEL₮ as digital finance step
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the partnership aims to build a “more connected, transparent, and digitally empowered financial world.” Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said stablecoins “are becoming part of the infrastructure layer for global finance.”
National Bank of Georgia President Natia Turnava also welcomed the collaboration as part of a wider strategy for secure and modern digital finance. Vakhtang Turnava, a member of Georgia’s parliament, said the partnership could help Georgia connect traditional finance with the digital economy.
The announcement also fits a wider stablecoin payments trend. Recent crypto.news coverage said stablecoins are moving further into real-world payments, business transfers, payroll, and cross-border settlement.
