Tether launches $5.38 million AI fund for USDT and BTC rewards

Tether launched a grant program allocating up to $5.38 million through 2030 to support locally-run, privacy-first AI and wallet development. Grants of $1,500–$4,000 per project will be paid in USDT or Bitcoin upon milestone completion, and Tether will prioritize open-source libraries, documentation and a Wallet Development Kit (WDK). The move both underlines Tether’s push into edge AI and may generate incremental BTC demand from payouts, while strengthening developer tools and on‑device self‑custody — potentially positive for Bitcoin adoption and USDT ecosystem utility. Tether’s research arm also highlighted efficient compact models (QVAC MedPsy) that outperformed much larger cloud models, reinforcing the firm’s technical credibility.