Rumble Adds Bitcoin Tipping via Tether Partnership

Rumble CEO Chris Pavloski announced the Bitcoin tipping integration during his appearance at the Plan B Forum in Lugano, Switzerland, revealing that the platform is working closely with Tether, its major investor and stablecoin issuer. “Right now, we’re in the testing phase,” said Pavloski. “We’re going to start rolling that out alongside Tether here in the coming weeks.” The partnership builds on Tether’s substantial $775 million investment in Rumble last December, cementing a strategic relationship between the two companies.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized the significance of bringing Bitcoin and stablecoins to Rumble’s user base, stating: “Potentially, this is one of the biggest user bases that would start adopting Bitcoin and stablecoins.” Ardoino highlighted the dual appeal of cryptocurrency for both emerging markets and developed economies like the United States, noting that “Bitcoin and stablecoins can serve not only part of the population that is very dear to Tether—that is the emerging markets population—but also in the primary economy like the United States.”

The Bitcoin tipping feature represents just one component of Rumble’s broader cryptocurrency strategy aimed at empowering content creators. The platform is simultaneously developing its own crypto wallet in partnership with payments firm MoonPay, creating a comprehensive ecosystem for digital asset management and transactions. According to Tether’s Ardoino, these crypto tools will provide creators with “the security of the fact that they will not be debanked for what they say,” aligning with Rumble’s positioning as an anti-censorship platform that has become popular with conservative content creators.

Rumble’s push into cryptocurrency integration comes as the platform faces user growth challenges. The company reported approximately 51 million active users in the second quarter of 2024, down from 59 million in the first quarter. This 13.5% decline in active users underscores the competitive pressure in the video sharing market and the importance of developing distinctive features that appeal to both creators and viewers.

Beyond user-facing cryptocurrency features, Rumble has been actively accumulating Bitcoin as part of its corporate treasury strategy. The company first announced its Bitcoin treasury approach last year, revealing plans to invest up to $20 million of its cash reserves into BTC. In March, Rumble followed through on this commitment by adding $17.1 million worth of Bitcoin to its balance sheet. By the end of the second quarter, the company held approximately $25 million in Bitcoin, demonstrating significant conviction in the digital asset as a treasury reserve.

Despite these strategic moves into cryptocurrency, Rumble’s stock performance has faced substantial headwinds. Shares of Rumble (RUM) closed up 0.56% on Friday at $7.14, but remain down more than 45% year-to-date. This disconnect between the company’s ambitious crypto initiatives and its market valuation highlights the challenges facing platforms seeking to differentiate themselves through cryptocurrency integration while maintaining investor confidence amid broader market pressures.

The combination of Bitcoin treasury accumulation, user-facing cryptocurrency features, and strategic partnerships positions Rumble at the forefront of cryptocurrency adoption among content platforms. As Pavloski and Ardoino prepare to roll out Bitcoin tipping in the coming weeks, the industry will be watching closely to see if these crypto initiatives can reverse the platform’s user decline and stock performance challenges while creating new monetization opportunities for creators in an increasingly competitive digital content landscape.