Tether to Discontinue USDT Support on Underutilized Blockchains

In a strategic shift, Tether has announced plans to phase out its USDT stablecoin on five blockchains that have seen dwindling usage. The affected networks include Omni Layer, Bitcoin Cash's Simple Ledger Protocol, Kusama, EOS, and Algorand, with redemptions and new token issuances set to cease on September 1, 2025. Any remaining tokens will be frozen on the same day, as stated in an official announcement. These networks collectively account for a minimal fraction of USDT's approximately $156 billion market presence. According to Tether, the utilization of USDT on these blockchains, which were instrumental in the company's early expansion, has decreased substantially over the past two years. By discontinuing support for these legacy chains, Tether aims to concentrate on platforms offering enhanced scalability, increased developer activity, and greater community engagement – essential factors for propelling the next phase of stablecoin adoption, as noted by Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino. The company will now focus on Layer 2 networks, such as the Lightning Network, and newer blockchains that promise faster transaction settlement and more advanced developer tools. Tether has urged customers holding USDT on the affected networks to redeem their tokens promptly or request their issuance on a supported blockchain, with options to migrate tokens via blockchain bridges or exchanges. Currently, the majority of Tether's $156 billion in circulation is on Tron and Ethereum, which together comprise over 95% of the total, with Solana being the only other network with more than 1% of USDT's supply in circulation, based on data from RWA.xyz.