Tether deserted plans to freeze its dollar-pegged USDT tokens on a number of older blockchains and is selecting as an alternative to categorise them as “unsupported,” in line with an Aug. 29 assertion.
The change applies to networks equivalent to Bitcoin Cash, Kusama, EOS, and Algorand, amongst others. Customers will nonetheless be capable to transfer tokens throughout wallets, however Tether will now not difficulty or redeem USDT on these platforms.
The shift got here after weeks of group pushback over the company’s original plan, which might have locked tokens in place and left them non-transferable.
‘Unsupported’ classification
In June, Tether had outlined a transition that will start Sept. 1, 2025, with all USDT on the affected blockchains frozen and excluded from redemptions.
The transfer was framed as a approach to streamline operations by chopping off assist for networks that accounted for a negligible share of the stablecoin’s exercise. Underneath that plan, tokens would have remained seen on-chain however successfully stranded with none motion or redemption path.
Following sustained criticism from builders and customers on smaller ecosystems like EOS and Algorand, Tether retreated from a tough freeze. The agency mentioned the revised strategy “aligns with its broader technique” whereas avoiding reputational harm.
The compromise permits Tether to wind down low-volume chains with out scary backlash from customers who would have been locked out of their belongings.
Pivot towards Bitcoin
The announcement got here simply at some point after Tether disclosed plans to difficulty a local USDT on Bitcoin utilizing the RGB protocol.
Not like wrapped tokens that depend on custodial bridges, RGB integrates immediately with Bitcoin’s scripting and client-side validation, making USDT a part of the Bitcoin ecosystem’s safety mannequin.
USDT stays most closely targeting Ethereum and Tron, every with greater than $80 billion in circulation, alongside smaller footprints on Solana and some different networks.
The choice to drop assist for legacy chains alerts tightening assets on platforms with increased adoption whereas staking new floor on Bitcoin.
