Tether-Backed Stable Chain to Replace Gas Token gUSDT with USDT0 in Major Network Upgrade
- What Exactly Is the Stable Chain?
- Why the Switch from gUSDT to USDT0?
- What Else Is Coming in the v1.2.0 Upgrade?
- What's Next for Stable?
- Frequently Asked Questions
In a move that's got the crypto community buzzing, the Tether-backed LAYER 1 blockchain Stable is making waves with its upcoming protocol upgrade. The network will transition from using gUSDT to USDT0 as its native gas token on February 4, 2026 - a strategic shift designed to streamline user experience and enhance production readiness across its stablecoin-focused ecosystem. What makes this particularly interesting? The v1.2.0 update comes just two months after the blockchain's initial launch, showing Stable isn't wasting any time in its ambitious plans.
What Exactly Is the Stable Chain?
Stable isn't your average blockchain - it's built from the ground up for stablecoin transactions and institutional payment flows. Since its mainnet launch on December 8, 2025, the network has already attracted over $780 million in total value locked (TVL), according to data from CoinMarketCap. The platform has secured partnerships with heavy hitters like Anchorage Digital and PayPal Ventures, proving institutional players are taking notice.
The Core thesis? "The global economy needs native stablecoin infrastructure designed for real-world payments and transfers." And Stable aims to deliver exactly that by addressing the shortcomings of existing blockchain infrastructures when it comes to digital payment experiences.
Why the Switch from gUSDT to USDT0?
This upgrade isn't just changing letters around - it's solving real pain points. By making USDT0 the native asset for gas fees (replacing gUSDT), Stable eliminates the need for users to constantly convert between different token formats. Imagine not having to worry about swapping tokens just to pay transaction fees - that's the simplicity Stable is going for.
The architecture is specifically designed for enterprise adoption, featuring low-resource requirements for high-volume users, sub-second block finality through its StableBFT consensus mechanism, and full EVM compatibility. Every transaction on the network uses USDT, removing the volatility headaches typically associated with gas tokens - a game-changer for payment processors and financial institutions managing treasury operations.
What Else Is Coming in the v1.2.0 Upgrade?
The update packs more than just a token switch. It introduces protocol-level signaling for completed delegation disablement, allowing applications and indexers to track staking lifecycles deterministically through on-chain data. No more guessing games or inferred states.
Other improvements include:
- Solidity compatibility fixes
- API-managed gas fee exemptions for controlled gasless transaction flows
- Enhanced network performance metrics
Stable is advising partners to confirm support for USDT0 gas fee handling across transaction signing, fee estimation, and submission processes. Indexer updates are also recommended to accommodate the new delegation completion signal.
What's Next for Stable?
The roadmap looks packed. Remember StablePay? The consumer-facing e-wallet announced last year is still on track for launch in 2026, promising fee-free P2P transfers directly from the wallet interface. The team is doubling down on enterprise collaborations to position itself as the go-to platform for institutional payment flows.
They're not alone in this space though. Competitors like Circle's Arc and Stripe's Tempo have announced their own enterprise-grade stablecoin payment networks, while Plasma - another USDT-focused blockchain backed by Bitfinex and Framework Ventures - launched its mainnet beta in September 2025 after raising $28 million in seed funding led by Bitfinex and Hack VC.
As Paolo Ardoino, Tether CEO and advisor to Plasma, put it during the funding announcement: "The race for stablecoin infrastructure supremacy is just heating up." And with moves like this USDT0 transition, Stable is clearly determined to stay ahead of the pack.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Stable's gUSDT to USDT0 transition happening?
The transition will occur on February 4, 2026 as part of the v1.2.0 network upgrade.
What advantages does USDT0 offer over gUSDT?
USDT0 simplifies the user experience by eliminating conversion needs, unifies fee payments and settlements in a single stablecoin flow, and removes volatility concerns associated with traditional gas tokens.
How can developers prepare for the upgrade?
Developers should update their applications to handle USDT0 for gas fees and modify indexers to recognize the new delegation completion signals introduced in v1.2.0.
