Bitcoin News Today: Rumble's Bitcoin Tipping Drives Tether's USAT Adoption Strategy

Rumble Inc. (RUM) has announced the launch of a Bitcoin (BTC) tipping feature for its 51 million monthly active users, marking a significant expansion of cryptocurrency integration into mainstream content creation platforms. The feature, developed in partnership with Tether, supports payments in BTC, Tether's USDT stablecoin, and Tether Gold (XAUT), and is set to debut in mid-December 2025. The first test transaction—a $4.50 BTC tip to Canadian content creator David Freiheit—was highlighted by the company as a milestone in its "freedom meets finance" initiative, according to TheCoinrise.

The integration aligns with Tether's broader strategy to expand its U.S.-compliant stablecoin, USAT, which is designed to comply with the GENIUS Act. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized that the partnership aims to convert Rumble's user base—predominantly in the U.S.—into stablecoin adopters, leveraging the platform's anti-censorship ethos to promote financial independence, according to TradingView. Tether's $775 million investment in Rumble in 2024 underscores its commitment to scaling USAT's reach, with Ardoino stating the company plans to onboard 100 million U.S. users by year-end through platform partnerships and targeted investments, CoinCentral reported.

Rumble, which holds 210.8 BTC ($23.6 million) in its treasury, has positioned itself as a crypto-friendly alternative to traditional social media platforms. CEO Chris Pavlovski revealed during the Plan ₿ Forum in Switzerland that the tipping feature was developed to empower creators with decentralized payment systems, enabling them to receive funds without fear of deplatforming, according to CoinDesk. The company is also running a promotional sweepstakes offering 1 BTC to users until October 31, 2025, to drive engagement with the new system, TheCoinrise reported.

Regulatory considerations are central to Tether's approach. While its flagship USDT stablecoin faces scrutiny under U.S. regulations, USAT is structured to meet federal compliance standards via Anchorage Digital. Ardoino noted that the stablecoin's launch in December would focus on "everyday transactions" in the creator economy, competing with traditional payment platforms like PayPal, CoinCentral reported.

Analysts view the move as a strategic win for both companies. Rumble's alignment with Bitcoin's decentralization principles resonates with its user base, while Tether gains a scalable on-ramp for USAT adoption. The integration also reflects growing corporate interest in crypto payments, particularly as U.S. regulatory frameworks evolve.