AsianFin -- Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino confirmed this week that Toyota, BYD and Yamaha have begun accepting payments in USDT for vehicle purchases in Bolivia, marking what industry watchers call a key milestone in the stablecoin’s expansion from financial services into the real economy.

Ardoino described USDT as a “digital dollar” for hundreds of millions in emerging markets, stressing that its adoption in brick-and-mortar commerce is entering an acceleration phase.

The move comes as Bolivia faces its worst dollar shortage since 2006. The country’s foreign reserves have fallen below $2 billion, the boliviano has lost nearly 50% of its value in 2025, and inflation has surged past 25%. A widening gap between the official exchange rate and the black market rate—currently about 15.7%—has left companies and households scrambling for reliable hedging tools.

Through regulated channels such as Bisa Bank, USDT has become a preferred option to mitigate exchange-rate risks. According to industry data, Bolivia’s cryptocurrency transaction volume reached $430 million in the first half of 2025, up 630% year on year, with USDT accounting for more than 80% of the total.