Stable's Mainnet Launch and the Strategic Use of USDT as Gas Token: A Paradigm Shift in Blockchain Payments

The blockchain industry is on the cusp of a transformative shift as Stable, a $28 million seed-funded project, prepares to launch its mainnet in Q4 2025. By anchoring its blockchain infrastructure to Tether's USDT as the native gas and settlement token, Stable is redefining transaction fee predictability, institutional adoption pathways, and the scalability of stablecoin-driven payment systems. This innovation, coupled with a target of 10,000+ transactions per second (TPS), positions Stable to capture a significant share of the global payments market.

Fee Predictability: A Game-Changer for Daily Transactions

Traditional blockchain networks suffer from volatile gas fees, which deter everyday users and institutional players alike. Stable's decision to peg gas fees to 1 Gwei (equivalent to $0.000001 per transaction) eliminates this uncertainty. By leveraging USDT-a stablecoin with over $90 billion in circulation-Stable ensures that users can transact with the same confidence as fiat-based systems. This design innovation directly addresses a critical pain point in decentralized finance (DeFi) and could accelerate the adoption of blockchain for retail commerce, cross-border remittances, and institutional settlements.

According to a report by Tekedia, the public testnet launched on November 3, 2025, already demonstrated sub-second finality and gasless peer-to-peer transfers. These features, combined with predictable fees, make Stable's network particularly appealing to businesses requiring high-frequency, low-cost transactions. For example, e-commerce platforms or gig economy services could integrate Stable's blockchain to process millions of microtransactions without exposing users to unpredictable costs.

Institutional Adoption: Bridging TradFi and Web3

Institutional investors have historically been cautious about blockchain due to regulatory ambiguity and operational complexity. However, Stable's architecture aligns with the priorities of traditional finance (TradFi) stakeholders. By using USDT-a stablecoin with regulatory clarity in the U.S.-Stable sidesteps the compliance risks associated with volatile cryptocurrencies.

Data from Polkadot Capital Group highlights that institutional adoption in 2025 is being driven by structured frameworks and educational initiatives that demystify blockchain technology for asset managers and capital allocators. Stable's predictable fee model and institutional-grade tools (e.g., staking solutions, reporting dashboards) further lower the barrier to entry. Notably, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has endorsed the project, signaling confidence in its alignment with evolving U.S. stablecoin regulations.

The healthcare sector, for instance, is exploring blockchain for real-time payment processing. Stable's infrastructure could serve as a backbone for such use cases, where predictable fees and high throughput are critical.

Scalability: Competing with Legacy Payment Systems

To assess Stable's market capture potential, it's essential to compare its TPS with legacy systems. While Visa processes approximately 24,000 transactions per second its stablecoin initiatives are still in pilot phases. Ripple's XRP Ledger, known for 1,500 TPS, focuses on cross-border settlements but lacks the throughput for mass retail transactions.

Stable's claim of 10,000+ TPS positions it as a viable alternative for high-volume use cases. If the network achieves its target of $1 billion in total value locked (TVL) before mainnet launch it could attract developers, building decentralized applications (dApps) for daily payments, loyalty programs, and tokenized assets.

Long-Term Investment Potential

Stable's strategic use of USDT as a gas token is not just a technical innovation-it's a market positioning move. By aligning with the largest stablecoin by market cap, Stable taps into USDT's existing on-chain volume of over $100 billion monthly. This creates a flywheel effect: as more users transact on Stable's network, the demand for USDT as a gas token increases, further entrenching the ecosystem.

However, risks remain. Regulatory scrutiny of stablecoins could impact USDT's utility, and competition from Visa's stablecoin infrastructure (e.g., BVNK partnerships) may intensify. Yet, Stable's focus on fee predictability and scalability offers a compelling value proposition in a fragmented market.

Conclusion

Stable's mainnet launch represents a pivotal moment for blockchain-based payments. By solving the volatility of gas fees and offering institutional-grade scalability, the project is poised to redefine how stablecoins are used in daily transactions. For investors, the key metrics to watch are TVL growth, TPS performance post-launch, and regulatory developments affecting USDT. If Stable executes its roadmap successfully, it could emerge as the dominant payments layer for a new era of decentralized commerce.