Tether has led a pre-seed funding round in Bolivian fintech Peso to expand stablecoin payment infrastructure across Latin America. Peso integrates USDT directly into merchant services and local banking systems, with infrastructure already live in Bolivia through Yango's food delivery service and expanding into Brazil, Colombia, and Argentina. Tether did not disclose the investment size.
Peso's payment rails include QR code transactions, point-of-sale terminals for merchants, and virtual accounts linked to Bolivia's banking system via ACH transfers. The setup enables seamless conversion between USDT and local currencies at the settlement layer.
Bolivia's stablecoin adoption accelerated in 2025 during a prolonged dollar shortage and high inflation. Businesses began accepting USDT as access to foreign currency tightened. The Bolivian government formally acknowledged the trend in November 2025, announcing plans to integrate cryptocurrencies and stablecoins into its financial system, including digital asset custody and crypto-linked products at banks.
By July 2026, the government had advanced to considering a regulatory framework that would officially recognize USDT for payments, savings, and trade—positioning it alongside the boliviano and the US dollar. Demand for dollar-denominated alternatives intensified after Bolivia abandoned its currency peg in June, deepening the dollar shortage and making stablecoins a practical transaction alternative.
The move follows Tala's Tuesday announcement of a partnership with El Dorado to offer credit directly through a digital wallet. The service allows eligible customers in Bolivia to receive and repay loans in USDT on the Tempo blockchain.
