What Is USDT: A Complete Guide on Tether

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Cryptocurrency excitement is reaching new heights globally. Meanwhile, many investors and market enthusiasts are curious about coins with less price fluctuation. These are known as stablecoins, which have their value linked to a specific underlying asset.

The most famous and widely used stablecoin is Tether (USDT). Let’s dive into how USDT works, why it’s the top choice among cryptocurrencies, and Tether’s future perspectives.

What Is Tether (USDT): USDT Meaning

Tether (USDT) is a stablecoin, essentially a digital version of the US dollar. Each Tether issued is backed one-to-one by the equivalent amount in US currency held by Tether Limited in Hong Kong, meaning every USDT is meant to be worth exactly one dollar. You can exchange Tether for US dollars according to Tether company’s rules.

Originally, Tether tokens were launched on the Bitcoin blockchain through the Omni Layer protocol and have since expanded to other blockchain networks. A key feature of the Tether network is its Proof-of-Reserves system, which ensures that the actual fiat currencies (dollars, euros, yen) held by Tether Limited match the amount of USDT in circulation.

Tether has long held the third spot in the ranking of cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. The total market cap of all USDT stands at $116,253,974,136, with about 116,183,859,407 coins currently in circulation. Notably, there’s a minor discrepancy between these figures. Although Tether aims to maintain an equivalent value with the dollar, the actual trading rate of USDT to USD can fluctuate slightly around this mark.

Tether (USDT) Overview

USDT Price	$1.00
USDT Price Change 24h	+0.01%
USDT Price Change 7d	-0.02%
USDT Market Cap	$116,253,974,136
USDT Circulating Supply	116,183,859,407 USDT
USDT Total Supply	118,060,317,102 USDT
USDT Trading Volume	$49,011,143,613
All-Time High (ATH)	$1.22
All-Time Low (ATL)	$0.5683

Tether Founders

The history behind Tether’s creation is one of the most captivating in the cryptocurrency market. Its founders are unique individuals who didn’t just create another cryptocurrency; they introduced an innovative approach to financial stability in the Web3 world. Let’s look closer at those who have been leading Tether since the start: Brock Pierce, Reeve Collins, and Craig Sellars.

Brock Pierce has an intriguing life story, transitioning from a childhood acting career in Hollywood to running for president of the United States. However, among his standout achievements is co-founding Tether. With his drive for innovation and entrepreneurial spirit, Pierce played a crucial role in creating a revolutionary financial tool known as USDT.
Reeve Collins is another co-founder of Tether and was the mastermind behind the company’s initial vision and strategy while serving as CEO. Reeve Collins was the first to announce the change from Realcoin, created in 2012, to Tether.
Craig Sellars stands out as the technical wizard among the founders, having served as the Chief Technical Officer of the Tether network. Sellars played a key role in developing the protocol that underpins USDT.

USDT Crypto: Technical Features to Know

Maximum supply: The maximum number of tokens is limited only by the amount of money held in the Tether Limited account.
First USDT token issued: March 12, 2015.
Supported blockchains: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, TRON, Avalanche, Algorand, and others (about 15 in total).
Market cap dominance: 5.47%.

How Does Tether Work?

Like other stablecoins, Tether aims to minimize the price volatility typical of traditional cryptocurrencies. To achieve this, the USDT price is pegged to the fiat currency: one USDT equals one US dollar.

The token’s value is backed by the issuing company, Tether Limited, through its own reserves. The company assures that all tokens are fully supported by these reserves. Tether gathers the necessary funds to maintain this backing from those who buy the stablecoins, but it can also use other means like loans or partnerships with financial institutions. To ensure price stability, the size of Tether’s backing must always equal the number of tokens in circulation.

What Is USDT: Key Features to Know

The fact that USDT always maintains a value equal to one US dollar makes it a reliable option for storing or transferring money. Unlike Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other popular cryptocurrencies, which fluctuate in value based on market dynamics, USDT offers stability and avoids market volatility. This makes Tether an excellent alternative to traditional US dollars for various uses, such as making international payments and trading cryptocurrencies without constantly converting them back to fiat currency.

So, the key features and benefits that Tether provides are:

It offers a stable alternative to volatile cryptocurrencies, protecting against sharp price swings in the cryptocurrency market.
Tether facilitates transactions in the crypto industry, reducing costs and delays.
It acts as a bridge between fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies.
For exchanges, the stablecoin increases the number of available trading pairs and enables trading in regions where fiat currency isn’t available for such purposes.

Tether is distributed in several ways. The main method mainly targets large investors because it requires minimum requirements. Clients deposit fiat funds, like US dollars, into their Tether Holdings Limited bank account. In return, Tether issues an equivalent amount of USDT, which matches the sum deposited into the company’s bank account.

Once issued, USDT can be purchased through crypto exchanges or currency exchangers. The speed of transactions depends on the blockchain on which the token operates and its current activity level.

It’s important to mention that Tether’s privacy level is quite low because of its centralized issuance process. When users deposit funds into a Limited Tether account, they must go through a KYC (Know Your Customer) process to confirm their identity, residence, and the origin of their fiat funds. This means Tether has a detailed record of its users.

What Blockchain Networks Does Tether Support?

USDT doesn’t operate on its own blockchain but is instead issued across various blockchain networks. Initially, this stablecoin was launched on the Bitcoin blockchain using the Omni platform. However, due to slow transaction speeds, it later expanded to faster network blockchains such as Ethereum and TRON.

According to the official website, USDT is compatible with multiple blockchain technologies, including Algorand, Avalanche, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, EOS, Liquid Network, Near, Omni, Polygon, Solana, Statemine, Statemint, Tezos, and TRON.

What Are Tether (USDT) Use Cases?

Tether or USDT, like other stablecoins, is used for the following cryptocurrency-related purposes:

Saving Funds

Due to its lower volatility compared to other cryptocurrencies, Tether is often used to secure profits and preserve the value of assets during cryptocurrency market instability.

Crypto Exchange

Tether can be used to swap various cryptocurrencies on crypto exchanges.

Transfers

Tether facilitates transactions and transfers between users and crypto exchanges.

Business Purposes

Companies and individual entrepreneurs can use the USDT Tether token to manage and audit their crypto assets. USDT is also useful in decentralized finance (DeFi). Here, Tether can be used for loans, staking, and as an alternative to national currencies.

What Makes Tether (USDT) Cryptocurrency Popular?

Tether (USDT) is the clear leader among all stablecoins in terms of market capitalization and trading volume, both monthly and daily. According to CoinMarketCap tracking recourse, its market cap is $116.2 billion, trailing only behind Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The popularity of stablecoins generally stems from their role in counteracting the high volatility typical of most cryptocurrencies. Unlike typical cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which can quickly rise or drop in price, stablecoins are tied to the value of specific fiat currencies. This makes USDT tokens a stable option for keeping funds safe during unstable times in the crypto sector.

USDT became popular as a digital counterpart to the US dollar before its main competitors emerged. Tether (USDT) was one of the first stablecoins, which helped it capture public attention. Later, other stablecoins like USD Coin and Binance USD entered the cryptocurrency markets, but USDT has historically held the leading position. Thus, all experts agree that Tether remains highly popular due to the following qualities:

Market Stability of USDT Tether

USDT is tied to the value of the US dollar, helping it avoid market volatility.

Liquidity

USDT is compatible with multiple protocols and is widely used across various cryptocurrency exchanges.

Relative Transparency

Tether (USDT) states that each token issued is backed one-to-one by the US dollar.

Hedging Market Risks

USDT offers traders and investors a way to protect against the high crypto volatility. Another reason for USDT’s popularity is the absence of major security incidents related to its use.

USDT Token: Key Tether Pros & Cons to Know

Like any crypto asset, Tether has several advantages and disadvantages that investors should consider:

Tether (USDT) Pros

Relative stability: The USDT token’s value is linked to the US dollar, making it less volatile than other cryptocurrency assets.
High liquidity: USDT is one of the most liquid stablecoins and tokens in general.
Versatility: Tether (USDT) is supported by many cryptocurrency exchanges and wallets, making it a useful tool for investors.

Tether (USDT) Cons

Regulatory uncertainty: There is no clear regulatory framework for Tether (USDT), which introduces several risks.
Centralization: USDT is controlled by a single issuer, which raises concerns about security and trust.

Tether Risks to Know

As previously mentioned, Tether (USDT) isn’t the only stablecoin out there, and many people opt for alternatives. There are three main reasons for this.

First, only a small percentage of USDT is backed by actual cash reserves; the rest is held in stocks, bonds, secured loans, and other investments. Therefore, if a large number of people decide to withdraw their tokens simultaneously, there might not be enough fiat currencies available for everyone.
Second, USDT has faced issues with the New York Attorney General’s office. Investigators accused the company of illegally hiding losses. Attorney General Letitia James stated, ‘Tether’s claims that its virtual currency was fully backed by US dollars at all times was a lie.’
Third, a failure of Tether (USDT) could pose a significant risk to the cryptocurrency industry and overall financial stability. USDT operates similarly to banks or other financial institutions but lacks the same regulations that protect consumers.

How to Buy Tether: Best Ways to Know

Switchere.com is a user-friendly cryptocurrency exchange that offers one of the safest and most convenient ways to buy Tether (USDT).

With robust security measures and a straightforward buying process, Switchere is suitable for both beginners and experienced investors looking to buy USDT securely.

At Switchere, you can buy USDT tokens using Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro credit cards, direct bank or SEPA transfers, and mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Switchere also offers a full-featured mobile app for iOS and Android devices, enabling you to manage your account and USDT balance on the go.

Conclusion

We’ve explored Tether (USDT), the leading stablecoin in the cryptocurrency world. It’s typically one of the first assets newcomers purchase when they dive into the cryptocurrency sector, as it allows them to buy other digital currencies and trade on exchanges later. Storing savings in USDT instead of other assets offers stability and protects against market volatility. However, if you value privacy and want to avoid centralization, you should check other more decentralized cryptocurrency options.

Article Source: https://switchere.com/guides/what-is-usdt

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