Imagine it’s early 2020. The crypto market is stormy, prices are swinging, but one name is gaining trust — not because of volatility, but thanks to stability. That’s Tether (USDT). In just a few years, it has become a key part of the crypto economy and is now used in billions of transactions every day, connecting crypto with fiat. In this article, we’ll explain which USDT formats exist and which network is best to choose for Tether.
What Is USDT?
USDT (Tether) is the largest and most well-known stablecoin, pegged to the US dollar. One USDT token always aims to equal $1. Launched in 2014 by the company Tether, it is backed by their reserves, allowing users to easily convert the token without losing value. Today, USDT ranks third among all cryptocurrencies after Bitcoin and Ethereum, with a market capitalization exceeding $160 billion. More than 450 million people worldwide already use Tether — for storage, transfers, trading, and everyday payments. But here’s the nuance: USDT doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It is issued on different blockchains, and the choice of network determines transaction fees, transfer speed, and security. For beginners, this often comes as a surprise.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies whose value is tied to fiat currencies (most often the US dollar or euro) or assets like gold, which keeps their price stable regardless of market swings.
On Which Blockchains Is USDT Available?
Today, Tether is issued on more than ten networks. The most well-known are:
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Tron
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Ethereum
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Solana
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BNB Chain
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Polygon
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Avalanche
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Near
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TON (The Open Network)
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and several others
When transferring USDT, it’s important that the sender’s and recipient’s networks match — otherwise, the transfer may not go through. Always confirm with the recipient which network they use for Tether. Below, we’ll look at the most popular networks for USDT.
Best Blockchains for USDT
Let’s look at the three main networks where USDT is used most often — each of them offers its own benefits and features.
USDT TRC20 — Mass Transfers and Accessibility
USDT TRC20 is the Tether version on the TRC20 standard, running on the Tron network. Its popularity began back in 2017, when Ethereum fees became too high. Tron offered fast and almost free transfers, attracting millions of users. Below we look at the key pros and cons of this format.
Pros USDT TRC20:
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Wide Adoption: USDT TRC20 has become a common tool for everyday use. People rely on it for shopping, sending money to relatives, trading, and international transfers. The scale is impressive: over 68 million holders and more than 2.7 billion transactions. This makes TRC20 the main format for USDT — the foundation of mass crypto payments that everyone is used to.
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High Transfer Speed: On average, a transaction is confirmed within a few seconds. For example, you can send USDT TRC20 to friends or business partners, and the funds arrive almost instantly.
Cons USDT TRC20:
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Higher Fees: Transfers on Tron network used to cost around $1, but due to the rising price of TRX, fees today can reach $4–8. This makes transfers with TRC20 noticeably more expensive than before.
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Swap Limitations: Exchanging USDT TRC20 for other tokens can sometimes be less convenient compared to Ethereum or BNB Chain.
How to Reduce USDT TRC20 Fees With TRX Staking
Imagine sending USDT on the Tron network and suddenly seeing a fee of $8 — not a pleasant surprise. But Tron has a solution: a special resource system called energy and bandwidth. You can get these resources through TRX staking and use them instead of paying fees. When you freeze TRX, the network gives you energy, which is automatically spent on transactions. The more TRX you stake, the more energy you receive, and the lower your fees — sometimes even down to zero. It’s a simple way to make USDT TRC20 transfers cheaper and easier, especially if you use Tron regularly.
Dynamics of USDT growth on Tron network: Over 68 Million Holders. Source: tronscan.org
USDT ERC20 — Security and DeFi
USDT ERC20 is the Tether version issued on the Ethereum network under the ERC20 standard. This is where USDT first appeared, and today more than 8 million users have chosen this network. Ethereum remains the main platform for DeFi and smart contracts, which makes USDT ERC20 especially popular.
Pros USDT ERC20:
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Security: Ethereum is considered one of the most secure networks, so your USDT is stored in a stable and trusted ecosystem.
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Access to DeFi: Ethereum is the foundation of decentralized finance and the NFT market. For example, with Gem Wallet you can not only store USDT ERC20, but also invest in Bitcoin, swap it for ATOM and stake it, or connect USDT to DeFi protocols like Aave via QR code to earn extra income.
Cons USDT ERC20:
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High fees: Ethereum gas fees are traditionally higher than in networks like TON or Solana. Still, the average transaction fee usually doesn’t exceed $1.
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Delays under load: The more users making transactions at the same time, the longer confirmations can take.
USDT BEP20 and USDT SPL — Fast and Low-Cost Alternatives
The third place in popularity goes to USDT BEP20 — the Tether format on the BNB Chain, already chosen by more than 35 million holders, and USDT SPL — the Tether token standard on the Solana network with over 4 million holders. Below, we’ll look at their key features.
Pros:
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Low fees: In both networks, transaction fees are usually less than $0.1.
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Speed: Transactions in these networks are completed within seconds, making them convenient for everyday use — whether it’s paying for an online purchase or quickly swapping USDT for another token. For example, USDT SPL can be easily swapped for memecoins like TRUMP or PENGU, while USDT BEP20 can be exchanged for BNB or ETH.
Cons:
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Lower liquidity: This means that on some platforms, trading volumes may be smaller, and large swaps may not always go through at the best price.
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Technical issues: Solana sometimes experiences outages, which can cause transaction delays.
A token standard is a set of rules within a blockchain that defines how tokens are created and how they work. Thanks to these rules, tokens are compatible with wallets, exchanges, and smart contracts.
The table below shows the key features of the blockchains mentioned above. By comparing them, users can see which network is best for USDT based on their own needs.
Comparison of popular networks for USDT: Tron (TRC20), Ethereum (ERC20), BNB Chain (BEP20) and Solana (SPL)
How to Choose the Network for USDT?
Each network has its own advantages and disadvantages: some people value speed the most, while others prefer low fees or security. To make the choice easier, we’ve put together a few key factors to consider before deciding which network to use for USDT.
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Popularity and Accessibility: The more a network is supported, the easier it is to use USDT for daily needs. USDT TRC20 stands out — it’s accepted almost everywhere, making it the most common and accessible format.
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Type of Wallet: Start with how you plan to store Tether. In custodial services (where the platform controls access to your USDT), transaction fees are usually fixed and depend on the platform’s rules. In self-custodial wallets (where only you hold the keys and control your USDT), you pay a “market” fee in the blockchain’s native tokens (TRX, ETH, SOL, BNB, etc.).
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Network Security: Make sure the network where you plan to store USDT is reliable. Ethereum and Tron are considered stable, but it’s worth checking the history of network outages.
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Transaction Fees: Consider the cost of transfers. On Tron, fees are tied to TRX price and can be higher than on other networks, while Solana and BNB Chain often offer cheaper options.
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Transaction Speed: Find out how quickly transfers are processed. In some networks they are almost instant, while in others delays are possible.
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Wallet Compatibility: It’s important that your wallet supports the network you choose. An added benefit is support for multiple USDT formats (ERC20, TRC20, BEP20, SPL, etc.) for easier swaps and transfers.
