RGB Protocol Brings USDT and Tokenized Assets to Bitcoin

July 17, 2025 — The RGB Protocol has officially launched on the Bitcoin mainnet, enabling stablecoins, NFTs, and other tokenized assets to be created and transferred directly on the Bitcoin and Lightning networks.

RGB Launches Asset Tools on Bitcoin Mainnet

RGB Protocol, a smart contract and token issuance system, announced its mainnet release on Thursday. The protocol now supports the creation and management of tokenized assets including stablecoins like USDT, NFTs, and custom tokens directly on Bitcoin.

The tools are available across Bitcoin and Lightning, preserving decentralization and privacy while enabling fast, cheap transactions. The protocol emphasizes self-custody and scalability, using client-side validation to verify assets privately without overloading the blockchain.

USDT to Launch First on RGB

Boosty Labs CEO Viktor Ihnatiuk confirmed that Tether’s USDT will be the first real-world stablecoin deployed via RGB. With Lightning compatibility, users will benefit from cheaper, faster transfers natively on Bitcoin eliminating the need for third-party chains.

According to Ihnatiuk, RGB’s integration of Lightning-based atomic swaps will also introduce decentralized trading functionality. He noted that RGB can support complex DeFi logic similar to Ethereum or Solana, allowing developers to build DeFi protocols directly on Bitcoin.

Privacy and Bitcoin-Native DeFi

RGB’s client-side validation architecture helps ensure transaction data stays offchain. This preserves user privacy and avoids bloating the Bitcoin network.

The protocol’s main advantage, Ihnatiuk says, is being directly tied to Bitcoin’s security and decentralization while enabling Ethereum-like flexibility.