Tether debuts WDK to bring non-custodial wallet access to humans and AI

Stablecoin issuer Tether has unveiled a wallet development kit allowing developers and businesses to integrate non-custodian wallets for Bitcoin and USDT into apps and websites.

According to a Nov. 11 announcement, the WDK wallet development kit is designed for both human and digital beings like AI agents, robots, and autonomous systems.

Tether’s newly unveiled software, WDK, honors the “groundbreaking vision” of the 2008 Bitcoin white paper. WDK is designed to strengthen the firm’s commitment to the core principles of “decentralized and permissionless financial systems,” equipping developers with tools that prioritize “user sovereignty” and control, the announcement added.

The kit promises a “non-custodial” and “modular & customizable” approach, which Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino describes as essential for building “programmable, open, and resilient monetary systems.”

In a Nov. 11 X post, Ardoino announced that the kit will initially support Bitcoin and USDT, with plans to expand to all blockchains “supported by Tether’s stablecoins,” adding that WDK will also expand to offer UI templates to streamline wallet deployment across platforms.

Tether is currently the world’s largest stablecoin with a market cap of over $124 billion. The majority of Tether’s circulating supply is held on Tron and Ethereum, accounting for 46.8% and 42.31% of the total, respectively, according to DefiLlama.

Tether’s moves in the AI sector

The launch of the AI-supported development kit aligns with Tether’s commitment to embracing AI technology. It follows the establishment of an AI division in March, where the company aims to develop open-source AI models to tackle real-world challenges.

In an August interview, Ardoino said that decentralization could offer crucial independence in AI, which he described as “heavily politicized.” He noted at the time that Tether’s investment approach is focused on supporting AI projects aligned with decentralization and financial freedom, prioritizing ventures that challenge the centralized control of major tech players.

Last month, Tether unveiled its AI SDK, dubbed “Local AI,” during the Plan ₿ event in Lugano, Switzerland, offering a privacy-focused platform for running AI models locally on various devices.