Texas Firm Battles Bulgarian Police Over $44M USDT Freeze: Are Stablecoin Geopolitics the Next Frontier of Diplomacy?

Texas’s battle with Bulgaria is more than a headline; it’s a flashpoint in the evolving world of stablecoin crypto diplomacy. When Tether froze $44.7M in SDT at the behest of Bulgarian police, alleging illicit activity, Riverstone Consultancy (a Texas-based firm) responded with a U.S. lawsuit claiming procedural violation and loss of opportunities.

The case puts stablecoin issuers, law enforcement, and cross-border jurisdictions into direct conflict, and it could reshape how global stablecoin freezes are handled going forward.

What Triggered the Texas vs Bulgaria $44.7M Stablecoin Crypto Battle?

The dispute began in April 2025, when Tether froze $44.7M USDT from eight wallets controlled by Riverstone, acting on a Bulgarian police request. Riverstone claims the freeze was improper and lacked sufficient legal basis under bilateral treaties, alleging Tether failed to validate the request through Bulgarian judicial authorities.

Tether, meanwhile, points to its terms of service, which allow freezing assets in response to official requests. Over the years, Tether has frozen billions tied to scams and sanctions. The Riverstone lawsuit, now in U.S. courts, claims breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, and unjust enrichment due to Tether continuing to earn interest on the backing assets.

This confrontation underscores growing tension when stablecoins straddle multiple jurisdictions, who adjudicate freezes, and whether issuers will be held accountable if they “over-comply” without due process.

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Are Stablecoin Freezes Becoming Tools of Economic Soft Power?

This case signals that stablecoins could become geopolitical levers. Because stablecoins like USDT serve as global rails for capital, freezing them can act as extraterritorial sanctions or diplomatic pressure. The Texas-Bulgaria clash suggests that governments may use stablecoin control as a form of soft power.

Countries are competing for stablecoin oversight, with the EU’s MiCA rules aiming to limit U.S. dollar dominance and China’s e-CNY asserting domestic control over digital finance. Meanwhile, U.S. initiatives like the proposed Stablecoin GENIUS Act seek to cement American regulatory supremacy. In that context, this lawsuit isn’t just about $44M; it’s a test of whether private stablecoin firms become arms of state policy or safeguards for user rights.

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Could This Case Redefine Crypto Diplomacy and Enforcement?

If Riverstone wins (or even forces stricter precedent), stablecoin issuers may adopt more defensive legal postures. They might reject or delay freezing requests that lack sufficient vetting, whitelisting only those backed by verified treaties or courts. This would shift enforcement from “instant freeze” toward judicial checks. Conversely, governments may push for treaties mandating real-time compliance by stablecoin firms, codifying their role in global law enforcement. That risks turning issuers into quasi-judges in cross-border disputes, a role they were never designed to play.

If courts side with Riverstone, it could chill futures freezes, empower users to litigate asset access, and force stablecoin issuers to build better transparency around freeze protocols. This Texas vs Bulgaria crypto battle may mark a shift in how stablecoins, law, and sovereignty intersect – potentially turning “crypto freezes” into a regular diplomatic tool.

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The post Texas Firm Battles Bulgarian Police Over $44M USDT Freeze: Are Stablecoin Geopolitics the Next Frontier of Diplomacy? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

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