Tether and Georgian Government Launch State-Backed Stablecoin GEL₮

Georgia has entered the digital currency arena with the launch of GEL₮ (GELT), a lari-pegged stablecoin developed in partnership with Tether. The May 25, 2026 announcement marks one of the first instances of a national government directly leveraging blockchain infrastructure for sovereign monetary purposes.

The stablecoin incorporates programmable payment features and near-instant settlement capabilities, designed to reduce transactional friction across Georgia's financial ecosystem. Regulatory architects built the framework with deliberate compatibility to U.S. digital asset legislation, particularly the GENIUS Act.

This initiative accelerates Georgia's multi-year strategy to position itself as Eastern Europe's cryptocurrency nexus. The country previously gained attention for accepting crypto-denominated tax payments through automated conversion systems. Modernizing payment infrastructure now takes priority, with GEL₮ serving as the technological spearhead.