Tether to End USDT Support on Five Blockchains as Part of Strategic Refocus

Tether, the company behind the world's most traded stablecoin USDT, has announced it will discontinue support for its token on five blockchain networks. The decision, which Tether says is part of a broader plan to refocus resources, highlights a shift in the company's strategy toward strengthening efficiency, security, and sustainability across its ecosystem.

The five blockchains affected by this decision include Kusama, Bitcoin Cash's SmartBCH, Omni Layer, EOS, and Algorand. These networks will no longer support USDT issuance, and users are being advised to redeem or migrate their tokens within the designated timelines. Tether explained that the move follows a thorough evaluation of blockchain performance, community interest, security, and usage levels.

In a public statement, the company emphasized that “maintaining a presence on multiple blockchains requires substantial resources in terms of development, maintenance, and support.” By discontinuing USDT on chains with low usage or waning community engagement, Tether says it will be better positioned to support its most active and promising networks like Ethereum, Tron, and Solana, which handle the lion's share of USDT transactions today.

Tether's decision comes at a time when stablecoins are under growing scrutiny from regulators and market observers. The company appears to be streamlining its operations to remain agile in a highly dynamic environment. While USDT remains dominant in terms of trading volume and circulation, boasting a market cap of over $110 billion as of mid-2025, its presence across multiple blockchains has long posed logistical and security challenges.

The discontinuation will occur in stages. While new minting of USDT on the affected networks will stop immediately, users will still be able to redeem their tokens until a specified cutoff date, after which support will cease entirely. Tether has pledged to assist users in the transition and urged holders on these networks to begin the migration process early to avoid complications.

Notably, the EOS and Algorand communities expressed disappointment, citing the role stablecoins like USDT play in liquidity and DeFi participation. However, others in the industry have acknowledged that consolidating activity on more active chains could help improve overall security and reduce attack vectors. The Omni Layer, once the first protocol to host USDT on Bitcoin, has seen a drastic decline in usage over recent years, making its removal largely symbolic of the company's evolution.

Tether also noted that its blockchain strategy will remain flexible and subject to ongoing evaluation. “As the digital asset landscape evolves, we will continue to assess emerging technologies and networks, and may consider reactivating or adding support where strong demand and ecosystem growth align,” the company added.

The stablecoin giant's decision marks a significant moment in the evolution of multi-chain interoperability. As the industry matures, such moves may become more common as projects look to optimize performance, security, and community value.

For now, Tether appears focused on consolidating its operations around chains that offer higher adoption and utility, an approach likely designed to ensure the long-term sustainability of the USDT ecosystem.