What is USDT?
USDT is a dollar stablecoin issued by Tether and the largest stablecoin by supply. Tether backs it with reserves made up mostly of US Treasury bills, plus other assets, and publishes quarterly attestations of those reserves.
USDT is the dominant stablecoin on centralized exchanges and on several networks, which makes it a common entry and exit point for on-chain trades.
Swaps between two dollar stablecoins, such as USDT to USDC or DAI, cost a 0.01% platform fee on ChainBridge at any size.
Where you can swap USDT
USDT is in the default token list on these networks. ChainBridge compares 0x, KyberSwap and ParaSwap on each of them and keeps the route that leaves you the most after fees and gas.
- Ethereum
- Arbitrum
- Optimism
- Polygon
- BNB Chain
- Avalanche
- Linea
Not in the default token list on Base, where USDC is the main dollar stablecoin.
Common pairs
| Pair | Why traders use it |
|---|---|
| USDT / USDC | Stablecoin pair: 0.01% platform fee. |
| USDT / ETH | Deep liquidity on Ethereum and Arbitrum. |
| USDT / BNB | The main pair on BNB Chain. |
| USDT → native BTC | Cross-chain through THORChain from Ethereum, BNB Chain or Avalanche. |
Risks to know
Reserve transparency
Tether publishes attestations rather than a full audit, and part of its reserves is in assets other than cash and Treasury bills. Weigh that against its deep liquidity.
Issuer controls
Tether can freeze USDT at a given address, and has done so at the request of law enforcement.
Depeg risk
Like any stablecoin, USDT can trade below $1 during market stress. Avoid holding all your savings in a single stablecoin.
How to swap USDT on ChainBridge
Connect your wallet
ChainBridge never holds your funds: the swap executes from your own wallet.
Pick USDT and the token to swap against
Choose the network, then the two tokens and the amount.
Compare the quote
Check the amount you receive, the minimum after slippage, the price impact and every fee. See reading a swap quote.
Review and sign
The transaction is simulated and the token is screened before you sign. A predicted revert or an unsellable token blocks the swap.
FAQ
What is the difference between USDT and USDC?
Both target $1. USDC is issued by Circle with reserves in cash and short-dated Treasury bills; USDT is issued by Tether with a broader mix of reserve assets. USDT is larger, USDC publishes more frequent reserve reports.
Can I swap USDT on Base?
USDT is not in the default list on Base. You can import a token by its contract address in the token selector, but check the address on the issuer website first.
Can I turn USDT into real Bitcoin?
Yes, from Ethereum, BNB Chain or Avalanche: choose Bitcoin as the destination network and enter your Bitcoin address. The swap goes through THORChain.