Utexo, a Bitcoin infrastructure company co-led in its seed round by Tether, has opened early access to its Bitcoin-based USDT for exchanges, wallets and trading firms. The public launch is targeted for November 28, 2026. Each token is backed by USDT0 locked on Arbitrum rather than by new Tether reserves.
Utexo will open its Bitcoin-based USDT to the public on November 28, 2026, after opening early access to Utexo Mint on Bitcoin's Signet test network. The token is a bridged version of USDT, not a new issuance by Tether, and it returns the largest dollar stablecoin to the chain where it first appeared in 2014.
Only exchanges and trading desks get in before launch
Utexo is onboarding exchanges, wallets, market makers, OTC desks and trading firms, and retail users have no direct minting access during the test phase. Approved operators test three functions on Signet: issuing USDT on Bitcoin, sending it confidentially and redeeming it.
The November date is a company target. Utexo has not published a full list of launch partners, so the number of platforms live on day one is still unknown. The release will reach users through partner wallets and exchanges, with Lightning Network support scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
Every Bitcoin USDT unit sits on USDT0 locked in Arbitrum
The token works on a lock-and-mint basis. According to Utexo's technical documentation, an operator locks USDT0 in a bridge contract on Arbitrum, and the system issues the same amount on Bitcoin. Burning the Bitcoin-side tokens releases the collateral.
This design ties Bitcoin settlement to an Ethereum layer-2 network, so holders depend on the bridge contract, the signing infrastructure and the collateral on Arbitrum. Utexo says minting runs inside Trusted Execution Environments on AWS Nitro Enclaves. The company also reports an audit by Oxorio, but the full report has not been published on its product page.
Confidential transfers, with compliance controls
Transfers use RGB, which keeps most transaction data off the blockchain. Outside observers cannot see amounts or counterparties, but that does not make the system anonymous. Utexo reportedly works with Crystal Intelligence on anti-money-laundering monitoring.
Fees and limits
Utexo's developer documentation lists a launch commission of 0.1% plus a 0.5 USDT base fee, before network and LayerZero costs. Unverified accounts can mint up to 100 USDT. Utexo has not said how long the zero-fee period for end users of partner wallets will last, and what wallets charge afterward will decide whether payment flows stay on Bitcoin or drift back to Tron.
Source: Crypto News Flash
Trading involves risk.
Risk Disclaimer
