Tether Holdings Ltd. minted $16 billion USDT on the Tron network in 2025, elevating Tron’s total USDT supply to 75.7 billion and overtaking Ethereum as the leading USDT network. This strategic move reflects Tether’s ongoing focus on scalable, low-cost blockchain infrastructure to meet rising global demand for stablecoins.
From 0 to $150B.
Born in 2014, Tether didn’t just launch USD₮ — it launched the entire stablecoin industry.
Today, USD₮ is trusted by 400+ million people & powers the digital economy.
To every user, builder & believer: thank you❤️
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The shift has solidified Tron’s dominance in stablecoin hosting, with industry experts citing its low transaction fees, scalability, and network efficiency as key drivers. Justin Sun, founder of Tron, continues to advocate for broader stablecoin adoption on Tron’s ecosystem. At the same time, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized that the minting was aligned with the company’s inventory management strategy.
“Tron’s increased role in USDT distribution aligns with our strategy to ensure sufficient liquidity and meet the rising user demand on scalable, efficient networks,” said Ardoino.
Tron’s 2025 Surge in USDT: Key Implications
The 2025 minting spree brings Tron’s USDT supply to 75.7 billion, positioning it ahead of Ethereum’s diminishing share. Tether’s pivot to Tron also highlights broader market trends — transactional efficiency and liquidity mobility are being prioritized over traditional network dominance.
According to CoinMarketCap data as of May 19, 2025, Tether USDt holds a total market cap of $151.31 billion, with a circulating supply of approximately 151.36 billion USDT. Its 24-hour trading volume surged by 64.03%, reaching nearly $90.47 billion, while price fluctuations remained minimal over the past month, signaling market stability amid this strategic shift.
Ethereum’s Decline in USDT Dominance
While Ethereum once held the lion’s share of USDT issuance, older ERC-20 USDT tokens are now being phased out, contributing to the decline. The increased gas fees and slower scalability of Ethereum have made it less attractive for large-scale USDT transactions, particularly in emerging markets that favor faster and cheaper solutions.
This transition also affects Ethereum’s total value locked (TVL) and DeFi footprint, creating new competitive pressure among blockchains striving to capture stablecoin market share.
Market Analysts: DeFi Will Follow Liquidity
Crypto analytics firm Lookonchain and experts from CryptosNewss agree that Tether’s focus on Tron will likely accelerate DeFi growth on the network. Analysts predict a liquidity migration to platforms and dApps operating on Tron, as users seek cost-effective alternatives for trading and yield farming.
The move is also expected to influence interoperability standards, with future cross-chain solutions possibly centering around Tron-USDT liquidity pairs.
Looking Ahead
Tether’s minting of 16 billion USDT on Tron is more than just a supply boost — it’s a signal of strategic realignment in the stablecoin space. As demand for high-volume, low-fee transactions continues to grow globally, Tron may become the preferred on-chain settlement layer for stablecoins.
With Paolo Ardoino’s vision guiding Tether and Justin Sun’s expansionary focus, the stablecoin ecosystem is rapidly evolving in both structure and scale, and Tron is now firmly at the forefront.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments are volatile and risky. Always conduct your research before making any investment decisions.
