Thailand's Bitkub exchange has enabled Tether's USDT to move directly on the Aptos network, giving its base a new low-cost rail for stablecoin transfers.

What Changed on Bitkub

Bitkub began supporting the Aptos network — a layer-1 blockchain built on the Move programming language — for USDT deposits and withdrawals on September 30, 2026, with the switch going live at 3:00 PM GMT+7. The exchange, which has more than 5 million registered users, now allows each of them to send USDT on and off the platform through Aptos rather than another network. The choice of network matters in practice because it directly shapes the speed and cost of moving funds in and out of an exchange.

To use the new option, users must generate a dedicated USDT wallet address specifically for Aptos transactions on Bitkub. The integration also provides local users with a Thai baht (THB) on-ramp and off-ramp for USDT that runs through Aptos — the conversion path between local currency and dollar-pegged tokens that underpins everyday stablecoin use.

Why Aptos's Numbers Stand Out

Cost is the headline feature: Aptos-native USDT transfers cost approximately $0.0005 each. Transactions on Aptos reach finality in under a second, meaning a transfer is settled and effectively irreversible almost instantly.

The research underpinning the rollout frames these figures as a substantial improvement in efficiency and user experience compared with traditional networks such as Tron, which has long served as a common rail for USDT transfers across the industry.

Native USDT on Aptos is not a recent development. Tether's stablecoin first went live natively on the chain in October 2024, built on Aptos's Move-based fungible asset standard. Because Tether issues the token directly on Aptos, it is not a wrapped or bridged copy of USDT from another chain, sparing users the added reliance on bridges or custodians that wrapped assets entail.

The Education Angle and the Broader Asian Push

Bitkub Academy partnered with the Aptos Foundation in July 2024 to strengthen blockchain and Web3 education across Thailand and Southeast Asia.

The Bitkub integration also fits into a steady regional expansion. Taiwan's MAX exchange rolled out Aptos-native USDT support at the same time as Bitkub, while Bithumb and Upbit, two of South Korea's major exchanges, began supporting Aptos-native USDT in 2025. With Thai, Taiwanese, and South Korean venues now in the mix, how far Aptos-native USDT spreads across the rest of Asia's exchange landscape is a development worth watching.

What It Means for Aptos and Thai Users

For Thai retail users, the immediate benefit is cheaper and faster USDT movement with a direct link to the baht. At roughly $0.0005 per transfer, fees can add up to meaningful savings over time for users who regularly move stablecoins between wallets or exchanges.

The research points to growing acceptance of stablecoins as viable payment tools among Asian institutions, with regional exchanges steadily expanding their stablecoin functionality. The findings also suggest these integrations may lift trading volumes on Aptos.