Stable officially launched its long-awaited StableChain mainnet, becoming the first dedicated Layer 1 blockchain that uses Tether’s USDT as the native gas and settlement token. At the same moment, the project introduced the independent Stable Foundation and its governance token STABLE, marking a major milestone in building institutional-grade stablecoin infrastructure. Backed by $28 million in seed funding and partnerships with PayPal, Anchorage Digital, and Bitfinex, StableChain aims to bridge legacy payment rails with on-chain finance while remaining fully open to the broader DeFi community.

What Is StableChain and How It Works

StableChain is a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain engineered from the ground up to run entirely on USDT. Every transaction fee (gas), every smart-contract execution, and every value transfer on the network is paid and settled exclusively in USDT. This eliminates the need for users to hold a separate volatile gas token, creating a predictable-cost environment ideal for payments, remittances, lending, and institutional treasury operations.

The network uses a high-throughput Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) consensus and is designed to integrate smoothly with both traditional finance and existing DeFi ecosystems. As of December 2025, the mainnet is live and open for developers and users worldwide.

• First Layer 1 where USDT is the sole native gas and accounting unit
• No wrapped assets or bridges required for day-to-day USDT usage
• Built for stable-value applications: payments, payroll, lending, RWA tokenization
• Fully EVM-compatible for easy migration of existing dApps
• Focuses on regulatory clarity and institutional on-ramps

What Is the STABLE Governance Token

STABLE is the native governance and staking token of the ecosystem, with a fixed maximum supply. It has zero role in paying transaction fees (that remains 100% USDT) and is used exclusively for:

• Delegating to validators to secure the DPoS network
• Voting on protocol upgrades and ecosystem grants
• Participating in Stable Foundation governance decisions

Token distribution and long vesting schedules were structured to favor long-term alignment between the community, developers, and early backers.

• Fixed-supply governance token separate from gas mechanics
• Used for staking rewards and on-chain decision making
• Community and ecosystem allocations prioritize developers and DeFi builders
• Team and investor tokens subject to extended lock-ups
• Enables truly decentralized evolution of the network over time

What Is the Stable Foundation

The Stable Foundation is an independent non-profit entity launched alongside the mainnet to oversee protocol development, ecosystem grants, and community governance. It will manage treasury funds, distribute developer incentives, and coordinate upgrades through on-chain voting by STABLE holders.

By separating foundation governance from the original development team, StableChain follows the decentralization playbook of mature Layer 1 projects while maintaining clear accountability.

• Independent entity modeled after successful blockchain foundations
• Controls ecosystem fund deployment and grant programs
• Facilitates transparent community governance
• Works with institutional partners while remaining neutral and open
• Publishes regular transparency reports and on-chain proposals

Key Partnerships and Funding Behind the 2025 Launch

Stable raised $28 million earlier in 2025 in a seed round led by Bitfinex and Hack VC, with participation from prominent angels including Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino. Post-funding, the project secured strategic partnerships with:

• Anchorage Digital – institutional custody and prime brokerage
• PayPal – exploring stablecoin payment rails and on/off ramps
• Other payment and banking providers focused on cross-border settlement

These relationships position StableChain as one of the most institution-friendly Layer 1 networks at launch while still welcoming retail DeFi participation.

• $28M seed round with strong industry backing
• Direct collaboration with PayPal on payment integration
• Anchorage Digital providing regulated custody services
• Bitfinex as both investor and early liquidity partner
• Emphasis on compliance-ready infrastructure from day one

Why This Mainnet Launch Matters for Crypto in Late 2025

The arrival of a USDT-native Layer 1 comes at a time when global stablecoin payment volume has surpassed $10 trillion annually and institutions are actively seeking compliant on-chain alternatives to legacy rails. By making USDT the default unit of account and gas, StableChain removes one of the biggest friction points in current DeFi: volatile gas costs and token juggling.

For developers, it offers a stable-cost environment to build payment, lending, and real-world asset applications. For institutions, it provides a regulated-friendly venue that speaks their language—USDT—while remaining fully decentralized.

StableChain’s December 2025 mainnet launch marks the beginning of a new category of stablecoin-optimized blockchains. With strong institutional partnerships, a clear governance model through the Stable Foundation, and a laser focus on USDT usability, the network is positioned to play a meaningful role in the next phase of digital asset adoption.

Developers and users interested in building or transacting on a USDT-first chain can visit the official Stable documentation and Stable Foundation portals for technical guides, grant applications, and governance participation details. As always, engage only through verified sources and prioritize wallet security when exploring new networks.