Still Trusting USDT in 2025? Curious What Everyone’s Using

[Silent Symphony]

Tether’s still the most used stablecoin on Earth — especially in Africa, LATAM, and parts of Asia. But there’s always this cloud over it:

• Limited transparency compared to USDC
• Massive issuance in offshore exchanges
• Yet it survives every FUD cycle and keeps leading in volume

So my question:

Is USDT’s dominance due to trust… or just habit?

I’m using more USDC and crvUSD now, but I’ll admit, USDT pairs are still everywhere.

What’s your go-to stablecoin in 2025 — and why?
Would love to hear if anyone here actively avoids Tether or still sees it as essential.

 

[Emma]

Tether (USDT) definitely has a stronghold in the market, mainly due to its widespread usage and liquidity, even if there are some transparency concerns. It’s more about habit and convenience for many traders. USDC and crvUSD are growing alternatives, but USDT’s dominance is hard to ignore, especially with its presence on so many platforms. In 2025, I’m leaning more toward USDC for its transparency and regulatory alignment, but USDT still seems essential for many transactions. Curious to hear what others are using!

 

[Mary]

USDT's dominance is definitely more about habit than trust at this point. While it’s widely used, the lack of transparency and reliance on offshore exchanges are red flags for me. I’d be cautious relying too heavily on Tether given its history with FUD cycles. I’m personally leaning more toward USDC and crvUSD in 2025 for the added transparency and regulatory clarity. Tether might be essential for certain pairs, but I’d avoid it where possible.

 

[Isla]

USDT definitely has the advantage of being everywhere, but I think a lot of it is just habit. It’s convenient and has the liquidity, even with the transparency concerns. I’ve been using more USDC and crvUSD too — they feel more reliable, but USDT is still essential in a lot of cases. I’d say it’s about finding the right balance!

 

[Darokshi]

USDT built its dominance early on when options were limited, and once liquidity pools, exchanges, and OTC desks got comfortable with it, that inertia became hard to break.


That said, I’m optimistic about where the stablecoin space is headed. USDC’s transparency and regulatory alignment make it a strong contender, and crvUSD bringing decentralized, over-collateralized options into the mix is a huge win for DeFi. I’ve been leaning into those two more this year as well.


But I don’t outright avoid Tether. It still feels essential in many markets, especially where capital controls or limited access to banking make USDT the de facto choice. What excites me is that we’re finally seeing serious alternatives rise without the drama more choice, better tech, and hopefully less FUD for everyone.

 

[Akure]

Tether's dominance isn't about trust it's about sheer inertia and convenience. People have been using USDT for so long that it’s ingrained in the system, even though the transparency issues and offshore issuance should make anyone cautious. The fact that it's still the go-to stablecoin despite all the FUD speaks volumes about how much people prioritize liquidity and trading pairs over underlying stability.


Let’s be honest, USDT is everywhere because it’s easy, it's always there, and it works for the masses who need quick, cheap, and fast transactions. But don’t kid yourself into thinking it’s the best stablecoin it's just the most convenient.

 

[Chicki Akiba]

I think it’s definitely a mix of both trust AND habit. For so long, USDT has been the stablecoin for liquidity, and it’s just become ingrained in the market. It’s like a default for traders the go-to option for most pairings. But at the same time, I can totally see why it’s a bit of a trust issue with its lack of transparency and offshore issuance.


For me, I’ve been leaning more towards USDC and crvUSD recently too especially with USDC's more transparent reserves. But man, you’re right, USDT pairs are everywhere! It’s like no matter how much you try to diversify, you always come back to Tether because of that crazy level of availability.

 

[Belin]

Solid question, and honestly I think it’s a mix of inertia and infrastructure advantage more than trust. USDT built deep liquidity pools across CEXs and OTC desks in emerging markets early, where regulatory oversight is lighter and capital controls are tight. In places like Africa and LATAM, access > transparency.


USDC’s tighter compliance makes it the preferred choice in regulated markets, but USDT thrives where speed, availability, and on/off ramp flexibility matter more than audits. Every FUD cycle dents sentiment but doesn’t disrupt functionality and in crypto, utility tends to outweigh narrative.

 

[Olivia Mia]

In places like Africa, LATAM, and parts of Asia, access to banking rails is often limited, and USDT has become a functional dollar proxy — not because it’s the most transparent, but because it’s the most available, liquid, and widely accepted. Even during waves of FUD, there’s rarely a viable alternative with equivalent market penetration and infrastructure support in those regions.


I’m personally leaning more into USDC for regulated environments and protocols prioritizing compliance, and experimenting with crvUSD for DeFi-native use cases. But when it comes to trading pairs and liquidity routing, USDT still dictates market structure.


At this point, I’d argue USDT’s dominance is sustained more by inertia and utility than active trust — a kind of crypto-dollar habit the market hasn’t yet broken. Until a credible, decentralized, and liquid alternative can replace it on the same scale across both CEXs and P2P markets, it’ll probably keep its top spot.

 

[Dean]

But I feel you on USDC and crvUSD, they’re looking solid, especially with the transparency factor. I’m personally leaning more toward USDC these days for the peace of mind, but I still find myself using USDT when I’m just hopping around exchanges. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of stablecoins convenient, always there, and reliable enough for most situations.


In 2025 I’m all about balance. USDT’s dominance is more like habit, but let’s be real, it’s hard to avoid it when it’s the backbone of so many pairs. Do I actively avoid it? Not exactly, but I’m more selective with when I use it these days. It's all about finding the right tool for the job.