Gold giant hands out $10 on St. Patrick’s Day

It's St. Patrick's Day and celebrations are underway across the globe.

In the United States, few places match the scale and spectacle of New York City. At press time, the city's historic St. Patrick's Day Parade is already underway, drawing massive crowds.

For those heading toward Times Square today, you have a chance to walk away with extra cash.

Joining the festivities, Tether, the gold giant and the issuer of the world's largest stablecoin , is offering $10 to anyone passing through Times Square on March 17.

But there is a catch.

Related: Tether appoints former White House crypto director Bo Hines as strategic advisor

What is St. Patrick's Day and why does New York celebrate it so loud?

St. Patrick's Day, celebrated every year on March 17, started as a religious holiday honoring Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. He is widely known for bringing Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century. 

Over time, though, the day has evolved into something much bigger. It is now a global celebration of Irish culture, complete with parades, music, food, and, of course, lots of green outfits.

Nowhere is that celebration bigger than it is in New York City. The city's St. Patrick's Day Parade dates all the way back to 1762, making it the oldest and largest parade of its kind in the world. 

Every year, more than 150,000 marchers take over the streets, passing landmarks like St. Patrick's Cathedral, while millions line the streets to watch. 

The parade route goes up Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 79th Street.

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How to get Tether's $10 giveaway

Tether's St. Patrick's day giveaway is not a simple handout of a ten-dollar bill. It is part of their broader digital activation designed to onboard users into the stablecoin ecosystem.

As per a press release , participants must scan a QR code distributed by street teams across Times Square and along the parade route. From there, users are prompted to download the Rumble Wallet, after which they can claim $10 in USAT directly to their phones.

USAT is a dollar-backed stablecoin, designed by Tether and just like USDT, to function as a digital version of the U.S. dollar on blockchain networks.

"Times Square on St. Patrick's Day is one of the most electric environments in the world,"said Bo Hines, CEO of Tether's U.S. arm. "We are not just running ads, we are handing people the future of money and letting them use it on the spot. This activation invites people to experience the next generation of money right on their smartphones.