Latest Tether USDt (USDT) News Update

Deep Dive

1. Tron USDT Hits 82.4B Supply (18 January 2026)

Overview: Tether minted 22.7B new USDT on Tron in 2025, raising its total supply on the network to 82.4B and adding 11M new holders. Tron processed $7.9T in USDT transfers during this period, cementing its role as a high-volume settlement layer.
What this means: This is bullish for USDT as it signals deepening adoption and liquidity on Tron, potentially accelerating DeFi and remittance use cases. However, concentrated blockchain exposure could amplify systemic risks if network vulnerabilities emerge.
(CoinMarketCap)

2. WalletConnect Enables Global Payments (18 January 2026)

Overview: WalletConnect Pay partnered with payment giant Ingenico to enable stablecoin transactions (including USDT) across 40M+ point-of-sale terminals in 120 countries, with European rollouts starting Q1 2026.
What this means: This integration is bullish for USDT as it bridges crypto with mainstream retail, enhancing real-world utility. Wider acceptance could drive demand, though regulatory hurdles in key markets like the EU may slow adoption.
(Binance Square)

3. DOJ Charges $1B USDT Laundering (17 January 2026)

Overview: The U.S. DOJ charged a Venezuelan national with laundering $1B using USDT on Tron, alleging layered transfers to obscure fund origins routed through Colombia and China.
What this means: This is bearish for USDT as it highlights ongoing illicit use cases, likely intensifying regulatory scrutiny. Tether’s compliance infrastructure will face pressure to demonstrate robust monitoring amid growing enforcement actions.
(CoinMarketCap)

Conclusion

Tether’s infrastructure growth and retail integrations contrast with regulatory friction, positioning USDT at a crossroads of adoption and accountability. How will Tether balance scalability with compliance as stablecoin oversight tightens globally?

Deep Dive

1. @PhoenixCrypt01: USDT Dominance Breakout Bullish

“$USDT Dominance breaks symmetrical triangle – Ichimoku Cloud support holds. Bullish move likely if trendline holds.”
– @PhoenixCrypt01 (2,235 followers · 3,054 impressions · 2026-01-13 05:06 UTC)
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What this means: A rising USDT.D suggests capital fleeing to stablecoins, often preceding crypto selloffs. However, Tether’s dominance near 6.8% remains below 2025’s 9% peak, leaving room for altcoin rotations if reversed.

2. @Jesucrypto11: USDT.D Weakness Signals Altcoin Hope

“USDT.D loses 5.8% – SoW (Sign of Weakness) confirmed. Altseason loading?”
– @Jesucrypto11 (2,455 followers · 3,447 impressions · 2026-01-07 03:49 UTC)
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What this means: Declining dominance could signal risk-on capital shifting to Bitcoin/alts. USDT.D’s 2026 low of 5.3% (vs. current 6.5%) suggests traders are watching for a decisive break below 6% to confirm bullish rotations.

3. S&P Global: Downgrades USDT to “Weak” Rating

S&P cites Tether’s 24% exposure to “high-risk assets” (BTC, gold, loans) and El Salvador’s lax oversight. Tether counters with $7B excess reserves and $135B Treasury holdings.
– Report published 2025-11-26
View article
What this means: Institutions may favor USDC/EURC for compliance, but USDT’s 68% stablecoin market share shows retail’s preference for liquidity over regulation.

Conclusion

The consensus on USDT is mixed – bullish for its liquidity dominance and Treasury-backed reserves, bearish for regulatory risks and transparency gaps. Watch the USDT.D 6% support level: a breakdown could spark altcoin rallies, while holding above may signal prolonged crypto caution. As MiCA enforcement looms in 2026, Tether’s ability to balance growth and compliance will dictate its $1 peg’s resilience.

Deep Dive

1. Wallet Dev Kit Adds RGB Support (14 January 2026)

Overview: Tether’s Wallet Development Kit (WDK) now supports the RGB protocol, allowing developers to build wallets that natively handle USDT on Bitcoin. This simplifies cross-chain functionality and enhances privacy.
Tether’s WDK update integrates RGB’s client-side validation and offline transaction capabilities, letting users manage USDT directly within Bitcoin wallets. This bridges Bitcoin’s security with stablecoin utility while avoiding bloated on-chain data.
What this means: This is bullish for USDT because it expands its use case into Bitcoin’s ecosystem, enabling seamless transfers and smart contract interactions without relying on Ethereum or Tron. (Source)

2. USDT Native on Bitcoin via RGB (28 August 2025)

Overview: USDT launched on Bitcoin’s blockchain using the RGB protocol, enabling atomic swaps with Bitcoin and integration with the Lightning Network for instant settlements.
The RGB protocol allows USDT to operate as a Bitcoin layer-2 asset, leveraging Taproot for privacy and scalability. Users can now hold and transfer USDT in Bitcoin wallets, with transactions settling in seconds for minimal fees.
What this means: This is bullish for USDT because it merges Bitcoin’s security with stablecoin liquidity, positioning USDT as a backbone for decentralized finance (DeFi) on Bitcoin. (Source)

3. Legacy Blockchain Support Sunset (1 September 2025)

Overview: Tether halted USDT issuance and froze remaining tokens on Omni, Bitcoin Cash SLP, Kusama, EOS, and Algorand, citing low usage and scalability limitations.
These networks accounted for <0.1% of USDT’s $186B supply. Tether redirected resources to Ethereum, Tron, and emerging Layer 2 chains, which handle ~99% of USDT transactions.
What this means: This is neutral for USDT. While it streamlines operations and reduces fragmentation, users on deprecated chains must migrate tokens, creating short-term friction. (Source)

Conclusion

Tether is doubling down on Bitcoin integration and pruning underused blockchains to optimize liquidity and scalability. With USDT now native to Bitcoin and developer tools like the WDK evolving, could cross-chain DeFi on Bitcoin become USDT’s next growth frontier?

Deep Dive

1. USA₮ Stablecoin Launch (12 September 2025)

Overview: Tether plans to launch USA₮, a U.S.-regulated stablecoin compliant with the GENIUS Act. This initiative aims to strengthen dollar dominance and institutional trust through transparency. Bo Hines, former White House crypto advisor, will lead Tether USA₮.
What this means: Bullish for USDT’s regulatory standing and institutional inflows, but dependent on U.S. regulatory approvals and competition from USDC.

2. Legacy Blockchain Transition (1 September 2025)

Overview: Tether will fully wind down USDT support on Omni, Bitcoin Cash SLP, Kusama, EOS, and Algorand by freezing tokens and halting redemptions. This follows a 2024 roadmap to streamline operations.
What this means: Neutral for liquidity (low usage on these chains) but risks fragmenting small user bases. Focus shifts to high-activity chains like Tron and Ethereum.

3. RGB Protocol Integration (28 August 2025)

Overview: USD₮ will launch on RGB, a Bitcoin Layer 2/3 protocol enabling asset issuance with enhanced privacy and scalability. This expands Bitcoin’s utility beyond a store of value.
What this means: Bullish for Bitcoin’s DeFi potential and USDT’s cross-chain dominance. Risks include adoption hurdles for RGB’s nascent ecosystem.

4. Wallet Development Kit (17 October 2025)

Overview: Tether open-sourced its Wallet Development Kit (WDK), allowing developers to build self-custodial wallets for humans, AI, and machines. Features include cross-chain APIs and gasless transactions.
What this means: Bullish for decentralized finance (DeFi) adoption and USDT’s role as a transactional layer. Success hinges on developer uptake and interoperability.

Conclusion

Tether is prioritizing regulatory compliance (USA₮), Bitcoin integration (RGB), and wallet infrastructure (WDK) to cement USDT as a global settlement layer. While legacy blockchain exits may alienate niche users, strategic bets on institutional demand and Bitcoin’s ecosystem could drive long-term dominance.

How will Tether balance regulatory scrutiny with its ambitions to power AI and machine economies?