CALGARY, Alberta — May 4, 2026
Executive Summary
Tetra Digital Group has announced the launch of CADD, a CAD-backed payment stablecoin issued by a regulated financial institution, marking a first for Canada’s digital asset ecosystem. Developed through Tetra Trust Company and its agent CAD Digital Inc., CADD has received regulatory approval from Alberta Treasury Board and Finance, enabling Canadian dollars to move on blockchain infrastructure within a regulated financial services framework.
The stablecoin is fully backed 1:1 by Canadian dollars, with funds held in trust and dedicated exclusively to redemption. CADD is now live on Base, Ethereum, and Tempo, with additional deployment planned on Solana. The launch establishes a domestically regulated pathway for on-chain CAD settlement, introducing programmable and near-instant payment capabilities aligned with institutional standards.
Announcement Overview
Tetra Digital Group has formally introduced CADD, described as Canada’s first CAD-backed stablecoin issued by a licensed financial institution, following regulatory clearance from Alberta Treasury Board and Finance. The initiative represents a structural development in Canadian financial infrastructure, enabling the movement of Canadian dollars on blockchain rails under regulatory oversight.
CADD is structured as a payment stablecoin, fully collateralized with Canadian dollar reserves held in trust. The issuance model is designed to align with institutional requirements, incorporating compliance mechanisms and regulatory clarity from inception. The stablecoin is deployed across multiple blockchain networks, including Base, Ethereum, and Tempo, with further integration planned.
The launch reflects the application of blockchain-based settlement capabilities within a regulated financial framework, enabling continuous and programmable financial transactions. It also introduces a domestically governed alternative to stablecoin infrastructures that have historically been dominated by foreign currency denominations.
Key Announcement Details
- Announcement Type: Stablecoin Launch
- Stablecoin Name: CADD
- Issuing Structure: Tetra Trust Company via CAD Digital Inc.
- Backing Mechanism: 1:1 Canadian dollar reserves held in trust
- Regulatory Approval: Alberta Treasury Board and Finance
- Blockchain Availability: Base, Ethereum, Tempo (live), Solana (upcoming)
- Primary Function: CAD-denominated on-chain payments and settlement
- Target Users: Banks, fintech platforms, payment service providers, institutions
- Operational Model: Regulated financial infrastructure with built-in compliance
Regulatory Approval and Institutional Framework
CADD has received formal regulatory approval from Alberta Treasury Board and Finance, establishing it as a compliant financial product within Canada’s regulatory environment. The approval enables Canadian dollar-denominated digital assets to operate within a recognized financial services framework, ensuring that on-chain settlement mechanisms adhere to applicable regulatory standards.
The stablecoin is issued through Tetra Trust Company, a licensed trust company, with operational execution via CAD Digital Inc. This structure ensures that issuance, custody, and redemption processes are conducted within a regulated institutional framework. All funds used to mint CADD are held in trust and are exclusively allocated for redemption purposes, supporting transparency and asset protection requirements.
The framework aligns with evolving regulatory expectations in Canada regarding stablecoins and digital asset infrastructure. It introduces a model where blockchain-based financial instruments operate under direct regulatory oversight, integrating compliance measures from the outset.
Product Structure and Reserve Model
CADD is designed as a fully collateralized stablecoin, with each unit backed 1:1 by Canadian dollars. The reserves supporting the stablecoin are held in trust, ensuring that all issued tokens correspond directly to fiat currency deposits. This model is intended to support redemption integrity and maintain alignment with institutional standards for asset-backed financial instruments.
The reserve structure is built to meet expectations around:
- Asset protection
- Transparency
- Regulatory compliance
- Redemption certainty
Funds used in the issuance process are not commingled and are dedicated solely to supporting redemption requests. This structure reflects institutional practices in safeguarding client assets and maintaining financial accountability.
Blockchain Deployment and Network Availability
CADD is currently live on Base, Ethereum, and Tempo, enabling immediate utilization across multiple blockchain ecosystems. The stablecoin is also scheduled for deployment on Solana, expanding its availability across additional high-performance blockchain networks.
The multi-chain deployment strategy supports interoperability and scalability, allowing institutions and platforms to integrate CADD within diverse technological environments. It also enables the execution of programmable financial transactions, supporting use cases that require automation, speed, and reliability.
The availability of CADD across these networks introduces continuous settlement capabilities, contrasting with traditional batch-based payment systems. Transactions executed using CADD can achieve near-instant settlement finality, enabling real-time financial operations.
Market Context and Payment Infrastructure
Canada processes approximately $424 billion in payments per business day, with a significant portion of retail payments still reliant on batch-based systems introduced in earlier decades. While the Canadian dollar is among the most traded currencies globally, the infrastructure for digital, blockchain-based settlement of CAD has not reached production-scale adoption.
CADD introduces a framework for continuous, programmable payment systems, enabling Canadian dollars to operate within blockchain networks. This development aligns with broader trends in financial infrastructure modernization, where digital assets are used to enhance settlement efficiency and transaction speed.
The introduction of a domestically regulated CAD-denominated stablecoin addresses the absence of a widely adopted digital payment rail for Canadian dollars, providing an alternative to existing systems.
Leadership Commentary
Didier Lavallée, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tetra Digital Group, stated:
“This milestone reflects the strong collaboration with Alberta’s government, industry partners and regulators to bring a compliant and scalable Canadian-dollar stablecoin to market. CADD is issued by a regulated financial institution, with reserves held in Canada and compliance built in from day one by a firm with Canada’s longest track record of operating regulated digital asset infrastructure. It enables faster and more efficient movement of Canadian dollars on-chain within a structure institutions recognize.”
Institutional Use Cases and Functional Capabilities
CADD enables a range of institutional use cases that are not easily supported by traditional Canadian payment systems. These include:
- 24/7 cross-border settlement
- Real-time corporate treasury transfers
- Programmable payments for marketplace payouts
- Direct settlement between fintech partners without correspondent banking delays
The stablecoin’s programmable nature allows for automation of payment flows, supporting use cases that require conditional execution and integration with digital platforms. Its continuous settlement capability eliminates delays associated with batch processing systems.
These capabilities align with institutional requirements for speed, reliability, and operational efficiency in financial transactions.
Industry Developments and Global Stablecoin Adoption
The global financial ecosystem has seen increasing adoption of stablecoins for payments and settlement. In late 2025, Visa began settling transactions using USDC, while Mastercard expanded stablecoin settlement across multiple regions, including Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Global stablecoin transaction volume exceeded $27 trillion in 2025, surpassing Visa’s annual payment volume. Despite this growth, stablecoin adoption has been predominantly concentrated in U.S. dollar-denominated assets.
CADD introduces a Canadian dollar-denominated alternative, enabling domestic institutions to participate in blockchain-based financial infrastructure using their native currency. It aligns with global trends while operating under Canadian regulatory oversight.
Strategic Positioning and Institutional Backing
CADD enters the market with support from a consortium of Canadian financial institutions and technology companies, including:
- Tetra Digital Group
- Urbana Corporation
- Wealthsimple
- Purpose Unlimited
- Shakepay
- ATB Financial
- National Bank of Canada
- Shopify
This backing reflects institutional participation in the development and adoption of regulated digital asset infrastructure in Canada. The consortium model supports scalability and integration across financial and technological ecosystems.
Testnet Phase and Initial Institutional Transactions
Prior to its official launch, CADD underwent a testnet phase in December 2025, during which it became the first Canadian stablecoin to facilitate transactions between two financial institutions: National Bank of Canada and Wealthsimple.
This phase demonstrated the stablecoin’s ability to support real-world institutional payment flows within a compliant regulatory framework. It also validated the operational model and infrastructure supporting CADD’s deployment.
About Tetra Digital Group
Tetra Digital Group is an institutional digital technology and financial services provider based in Canada. The company operates as the parent organization of Tetra Trust, Tetra Unity, and CAD Digital, delivering solutions across digital asset custody, orchestration, and digital currency services.
Tetra Digital Group focuses on building regulated financial infrastructure that integrates technological innovation with compliance standards. Its operations span multiple areas of digital asset management, supporting institutional clients in adopting blockchain-based financial systems.
About Tetra Trust Company
Tetra Trust Company is a licensed trust company registered under Alberta’s Loan and Trust Corporations Act. The company meets the requirements of a qualified custodian under National Instrument 81-102 and 31-103.
Tetra Trust operates as a reporting entity and issuer under the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, ensuring compliance with anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regulations. Its services include institutional-grade digital asset custody and infrastructure support.
Media Contact
For additional information, visit tetradg.com.
Source Attribution
Source: Company announcement
