What is USDT and why it’s everywhere?

February 15, 2026 USDT stablecoins tether

USDT explained: how it works, why it dominates trading pairs, and what risks to understand.

What USDT is

USDT (Tether) is a USD-pegged stablecoin widely used as a trading and transfer unit in crypto markets.

Why it’s popular

widely listed across exchanges
deep liquidity
used as a “base currency” for trading pairs

Risk checklist

issuer policies (freeze/blacklist possibilities)
backing / transparency practices
regulatory constraints in your region
chain choice (fees differ a lot)

Practical tips

prefer low-fee networks for transfers
avoid bridges unless you must
keep track of withdrawal fees per exchange