Tether, Georgia to Launch GEL₮ Lari Stablecoin

Tether and the government of Georgia announced a plan to issue GEL₮, a stablecoin pegged to the Georgian lari, using blockchain infrastructure. The project is part of Georgia’s new national stablecoin regime, which was designed to align with the U.S. GENIUS Act.

GEL₮ is described as a digital representation of the lari that will run on blockchain rails. Officials say the token is intended to reduce transaction costs, enable near-instant settlement and support programmable payments for public and private use.

Georgia already allows conversion of digital assets for tax payments. The government says GEL₮ will extend that capability into broader public monetary infrastructure to support domestic payments and cross-border transfers.

Tether will partner with Georgian authorities on issuance and technical deployment. Officials said they will publish details later on the token’s legal form, reserve arrangements, compliance measures, technical design and rollout timeline.

Stablecoins have seen growing use for payments, settlements and remittances outside of trading. Tether reported global monthly adjusted onchain stablecoin volume of $7.6 trillion in April 2026. Industry forecasts project larger growth: one projection put onchain stablecoin volume at about $33 trillion for 2026, while another analysis estimated $719 trillion by 2035 under organic growth and suggested a higher figure if adoption accelerates.

Vakhtang Turnava, a member of the Georgian parliament, said in a statement, “In partnership with Tether, the global leader in digital assets and stablecoin innovation, Georgia has the opportunity to become a strategic bridge between traditional finance and the digital economy of the future.” The government and Tether have not yet disclosed which blockchain networks will host GEL₮.

The government described the regulatory framework as intended to correspond with the GENIUS Act in Washington. Officials said they aim for regulatory compatibility with U.S. digital asset rules and will release more information about oversight and compliance in coming announcements.