A new wave of Bitcoin adoption is taking shape in online media - and this time, it’s coming from one of YouTube’s biggest challengers.
Video-sharing platform Rumble has confirmed plans to introduce Bitcoin tipping, allowing millions of viewers to directly reward their favorite creators using the world’s largest cryptocurrency. The feature, developed in partnership with Tether, is currently in its final testing phase and is expected to go live before the end of the year.
From Free Speech to Financial Freedom
Speaking at the Plan ₿ Forum in Lugano, Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski described the move as a natural extension of the platform’s mission to empower creators and protect free expression. “Bitcoin gives creators control over their earnings – no banks, no middlemen, no risk of being censored for your opinions,” Pavlovski said.
A historic first at @LuganoPlanB — @thevivafrei became the first creator tipped through the Rumble Wallet. Freedom meets finance? pic.twitter.com/WD0EohedIu
— Rumble ?☠️ (@rumblevideo) October 24, 2025
The idea was first demonstrated in a short preview clip showing Rumble’s initial test transaction sent to Canadian commentator David Freiheit. Pavlovski confirmed that user feedback during the testing phase will shape the rollout’s design, while Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said full deployment should happen between early and mid-December once the user experience is finalized.
A Gateway to Mainstream Bitcoin Payments
With over 51 million monthly users, Rumble could become one of the most influential platforms yet to normalize everyday crypto payments. The company’s decision to embrace Bitcoin arrives at a time when critics say the asset’s use as a currency has lagged behind its success as an investment.
Former Twitter CEO and Block Inc. founder Jack Dorsey recently warned that Bitcoin’s mission could fail if adoption as a daily payment method continues to stagnate. Rumble’s system, he argued in earlier interviews, represents the kind of on-the-ground integration Bitcoin needs to stay true to its peer-to-peer vision.
Tether’s Growing Footprint in the Creator Economy
Rumble’s tipping system is being developed with Tether’s blockchain infrastructure, deepening a relationship that began last year when Tether invested $775 million into the video platform. Ardoino said the integration will allow creators across both emerging and developed markets to bypass traditional finance entirely.
“Whether you’re in New York or Nairobi, you should be able to earn and receive money without asking permission,” he said. “That’s the philosophy we’re building into this partnership.”
Expanding Into Crypto Finance
Bitcoin tipping is only one piece of Rumble’s larger crypto blueprint. The platform is working with MoonPay to launch integrated wallets, giving users the ability to store and send digital assets directly within their accounts.
Rumble also joined the growing list of corporations adopting Bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset. As of this month, the company reportedly holds 210.8 BTC – worth about $23.4 million – according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.net.
Why It Matters
Rumble’s decision marks a defining moment for the creator economy. Unlike most social platforms that rely on fiat-based payout systems, Rumble’s Bitcoin integration could turn content creation into a fully decentralized income stream.
For Bitcoin, it’s a long-awaited return to its roots – not just a store of value, but a tool for global, borderless payments. If the rollout succeeds, it could inspire a new chapter in digital monetization where creators, not corporations, control the flow of money.
