🔍 Current status
USDT remains the dominant stablecoin with a 78% market share among stablecoins, despite increasing competition. Here are the key metrics:
- Market capitalization: $135 billion (up 23% since 2024)
- Daily trading volume: $68 billion (3x more than USDC)
- Issuance: Backed by reserves at a 1:1 ratio (according to Tether Limited's statements)
📌 Key changes in 2025
1. Regulatory recognition
- Received status of "approved payment instrument" in the EU (MiCA)
- Passed Big Four audit (the first full checks in 10 years)
2. Technical updates
- Support for 15+ blockchains (including new L2 solutions)
- Implementation of programmable payments (smart contracts for USDT)
3. New areas of application
- Official settlements in 7 African countries
- Integration with the CBDC of China and the UAE
- Primary asset for decentralized lending protocols (TVL $42B in DeFi)
💵 Support for reserves (according to the latest report)
| Asset | Share |
|-------|------|
| Cash and equivalents | 32% |
| US Treasury Bonds | 58% |
| Crypto holdings (BTC/ETH) | 5% |
| Others | 5% |
⚠️ Risks and issues
1. Lawsuits
- Ongoing disputes with the SEC (claims regarding audits)
2. Competition
- USDC and FDUSD are actively reclaiming market share
- CBDCs pose a long-term threat
3. Technical vulnerabilities
- In March 2025, there was an attack on the cross-chain bridge (loss of $12M)
💡 Why does USDT still dominate?
1. Liquidity
- The USDT/BTC pair has 15% less slippage than USDC/BTC
2. Flexibility
- Support for more blockchains than competitors
3. Habit
- 89% of cryptocurrency exchanges use USDT as the base pair
📈 Forecast for 2026
- Base scenario: Capitalization growth to $150-170 billion
- Optimistic: Full integration with SWIFT
- Pessimistic: Regulatory restrictions in the USA
🛡️ How to safely use USDT?
1. Store on hardware wallets (Ledger/Trezor)
2. Exchange only on top exchanges (Binance, OKX)
3. Avoid unverified cross-chain bridges
Conclusion: USDT remains the "lifeblood" of the crypto market but requires caution due to regulatory risks. For long-term storage, many now prefer USDC, but for trading, USDT is still unmatched.