Tether and licensed Laotian exchange Bitqik have launched a joint initiative to raise public understanding of Bitcoin and stablecoins across Laos, with a particular focus on USD₮, Tether’s flagship stablecoin. The program, announced this month, will combine online learning with in-person roadshows and seminars designed to introduce communities, students and entrepreneurs to practical uses of stablecoins and blockchain technology.
Bitqik, a local exchange that offers brokerage and trading services and enables easy send-and-receive crypto functionality, says the partnership is rooted in a shared belief that decentralized digital currencies can reshape access to finance and spur wider economic innovation. Under the collaboration, Bitqik will expand its Bitqik Academy to produce online educational content aimed at students and will host quarterly events in central cities, including Vientiane, Pakse, Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang.
Boosting Crypto Literacy in Laos
Organizers say the campaign aims to reach more than 10,000 people through seminars, roadshows and digital content during 2026, with sessions geared toward practical, real-world use cases, from remittances and everyday payments to how stablecoins can lower friction for small businesses and cross-border commerce. The events are being positioned as an effort to build both trust in stablecoins and the skills needed to participate safely in the digital economy.
Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO, framed the effort as more than just access: “Financial inclusion is not only achieved by access but by having a clear understanding. This collaboration with Bitqik reflects our commitment to grassroots education and to empowering communities in Laos with the knowledge and tools to participate meaningfully in the digital economy. By bridging knowledge gaps, expanding access to education, and combining real-world use cases for stablecoins, we are helping to build a more resilient, inclusive, and opportunity-driven financial future.”
Bitqik’s CEO, Virasack Viravong, said the exchange will leverage its local presence to run the Bitqik Academy activities throughout 2026, promoting both Bitcoin investment basics and the use of USD₮, which the company describes as the most widely used stablecoin in the Lao market. “This collaboration will provide Lao people with greater access to digital assets through various activities throughout 2026,” he said.
The timing comes as regional interest in digital finance and stablecoins grows, and as fintech education becomes a policy and development priority in many parts of Southeast Asia. Organizers say the emphasis on practical training and community engagement is intended to reduce friction and skepticism around digital assets while equipping participants with the knowledge to use these tools responsibly.
As the program gets underway, people will be watching to see whether Tether and Bitqik’s mix of classroom lessons, online materials and travelling roadshows actually leads people to use stablecoins in their daily lives, especially in smaller towns and rural areas where digital payments have been slow to catch on. If they reach their goal of educating 10,000 people, the initiative could become a practical example of how industry-backed education, teamed with local exchanges, can help broaden financial inclusion.
