The MANTRA (OM) token’s wild crash on Apr 13, 2025, shocked the crypto world. Discover the causes, fallout, and what’s next in MANTRA’s road to recovery.

In the morning and daytime hours of Apr 13, 2025, the MANTRA blockchain's native token, OM, sat at a respectable market cap of $6 billion, making it the third-highest-ranked cryptocurrency in the 

 (RWA) category, the area the platform specializes in. Everything seemed like smooth sailing for the token.

Then, just after 6 PM UTC, the price of the OM token suddenly began to free-fall, declining from nearly $6 to about $0.50 in the space of just two hours.

A project that started the day as one of the top players in the RWA field was now worth 90% less as the evening approached. OM's abrupt, sharp crash immediately caught the market's attention, with speculation of a 

However, MANTRA's CEO, John Patrick Mullin, immediately sprang into action for PR damage control on social media, reassuring the public that the team members weren’t dumping OM tokens at all. Instead, MANTRA's founder and CEO alleged that deliberate actions of some 

 (CEXs) had caused the catastrophic plunge.

As of our coverage date of Apr 23, 2025, this is a developing story. In this article, we’ll establish what actually happened, who's involved and what awaits the OM token in the foreseeable future.

 decentralized network dedicated to RWA tokenization and utilization in compliance with real-world regulatory requirements.

 It features high scalability and low transaction fees. The project is one of the earliest initiatives dedicated to RWA use via blockchain technology. Originally, MANTRA debuted as a 

 (ETH) in August 2020. In October 2024, the project migrated to its own dedicated Layer 1 platform, the MANTRA Chain. The MANTRA blockchain is based on the Cosmos SDK framework, and is part of the wider 

The MANTRA ecosystem's main products include MANTRA DEX, a 

 (DEX); a digital identity (DID) management tool; a compliant token development and management solution; and a comprehensive compliance and permissioning system. MANTRA has also partnered with global powerhouses like Google Cloud, and with DAMAC Properties, one of Dubai's most prominent developers, to propel innovative solutions for 

Starting in late 2024, right after its own dedicated mainnet launch, MANTRA had become a significant player in the RWA corner of 

 (DeFi). By late February 2025, the platform’s native OM token had climbed to a value of nearly $9, with its market cap peaking at around $8.2 billion. Before the fateful events of Apr 13, 2025, OM was the third-highest-capped crypto in the RWA category, trading at $6.27, with a market cap of slightly over $6 billion, according to the CoinGecko portal.

In the evening hours (UTC time) of Apr 13, 2025, OM began to lose its value precipitously, dive-bombing from over $6 to about $0.52 in the space of two hours. The token’s market cap fell to slightly under half a billion dollars — a loss of more than 90%.

CEO John Mullin was quickly online, reassuring the crypto community that no team member had sold their OM holdings, and that this wasn’t a case of the bad ol’ rug pull. Instead, Mullin alluded that after OM tokens were moved to two leading CEXs (Binance and OKX) to use as collateral, the exchanges initiated a cascade of 

 of positions backed by the token. Both exchanges refuted the allegations, and connected OM’s price collapse to its recent unusually high price 

, and significant tokenomics changes made to OM in October 2024 that greatly undermined its value.

As a chain of liquidations took place, the token’s price started to plummet, causing significant panic that quickly led to further price drops. The situation only stabilized closer to the end of the day, with OM’s price remaining under $1. As of Apr 23, it’s trading at $0.5543 — a far cry from its rate of over $6 just two weeks ago.

After investigating, crypto analytics firm Lookonchain concluded that 17 wallets had deposited 43.6 million OM tokens (4.5% of the token's circulating supply) into the implicated exchanges. Two of these wallets are believed to belong to Laser Digital, one of MANTRA's investors. Another investor in the project, Shorooq Partners, is also suspected to be among the 17 wallets. Both Shorooq and Laser Digital have denied the allegations.

Although the price plunge was immediately compared to the 2022 collapse of the 

 (LUNA) blockchain, many analysts point out that the two crashes are fundamentally different. Terra's crash resulted from structural abnormalities in the 

 regulating UST, the project's stablecoin. In contrast, OM's fiasco is suspected to be the direct result of market-driven manipulation by 

, and possibly exchanges. No security breach, disruption to services or data, or other adverse structural events have occurred on the platform.

While this development is unprecedented for the project, MANTRA has been embroiled in other controversies throughout its history. One of these was its 

, first announced in August 2024 and then delayed multiple times. Around 50% of the wallets believed to be bots were cut off from the airdrop list. However, many considered the bot-culling process to have been conducted without much proof.

There have also been reports of vote rigging in the project's governance system in a bid to obscure MANTRA’s centralized model of profit allocation. Additionally, some analysts have accused the project of "forced bridging" to manipulate the market price. Platform users had to migrate their Ethereum-based OM tokens to MANTRA's native OM tokens via 

, which would increase gas fees and allow the project team to control the token's circulation pace.

How is MANTRA (OM) headed toward recovery?

MANTRA’s CEO rapidly reassured users that the team is now working hard to jump-start the token’s recovery. On Apr 14, 2025, Mullin unveiled plans to initiate a buyback scheme, along with the intent to burn all OM tokens held by the project team. The team's supply totals 300 million tokens, representing about 17% of the total supply.

He also denied factually incorrect assertions circulating online that the team effectively controls 90% of OM's supply. Mullin further assured the public that no large-scale selling events by investors have occurred.

As OM’s value has stayed firmly under $1, it remains to be seen how these PR efforts — as well as the planned buyback and burn — will affect the token’s future.

 as a swap pair with USDT, or on the Derivatives market as the 

Naturally, given the ongoing situation with the OM token, buying OM is at your own discretion, as right now the token is truly for the adventurous and brave at heart.

As of Apr 23, 2025, the OM token is trading at $0.5543, 93.8% lower than its ATH of $8.99 on Feb 23, 2025, and 3,138.8% higher than its ATL of $0.01726 on Oct 12, 2023.

Curiously, most crypto price prediction portals are optimistic about the OM token's long-term prospects. DigitalCoinPrice 

 of $1.81 in 2027 and $2.82 in 2030, whilePricePrediction 

It's hard to verify all the allegations flying around regarding the involvement of exchanges and key investors in the MANTRA OM incident. What matters at this stage is that the project team has been quick and proactive in injecting transparency and clarity into the situation.

The free fall in the token's price seems to be over by now. In fact, OM’s decline was over within hours of the incident. Moreover, unlike Terra's LUNA and UST coins, OM hasn't become worthless. All these factors point to potential stabilization and recovery ahead. The question now is: Will the pace and magnitude of the recovery be enough to save the project in the long term? At this early stage after the collapse, few people could answer the question with confidence. We'll eagerly await the developments over the next few weeks to see if MANTRA finds its way out of the woods. 

Intermediate

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MANTRA (OM): Understanding its wild ride and road to recovery

In this article, we explore WalletConnect's features, its native token (WCT) and how you can trade WCT on Bybit Spot and Futures.​

WalletConnect is an open source bridging protocol that facilitates secure connections between digital wallets and 

 (DApps). With over 38 million unique active wallets and 57,000 supported apps, it’s getting noticed by the crypto community. In this article, we explore WalletConnect's features, its native token (WCT) and how you can trade WCT on Bybit.​

 protocol that allows users to connect their mobile wallets to DApps via QR code. This eliminates the need for browser extensions, and enhances security by keeping 

The protocol supports a wide range of wallets and DApps, making it a versatile tool for users navigating DeFi and web3.

 is essentially a decentralized infrastructure that facilitates a uniformed way for users to easily connect their crypto wallets with thousands of DApps. It operates through a network of

 that relay messages, ensuring reliable and secure connections. The network's design emphasizes scalability and resilience, catering to the growing demands of DeFi. 

When a user initiates a connection between their wallet and a DApp, WalletConnect establishes a secure session through a relay server that enables encrypted communication, allowing users to interact with DApps directly from their wallets. 

The network's architecture ensures that messages are transmitted efficiently, maintaining a seamless user experience.​

The WalletConnect ecosystem comprises various stakeholders, including node operators, wallet providers and DApp developers. Node operators play a crucial role by maintaining the network's infrastructure and relaying messages. 

To incentivize participation, the network implements a rewards mechanism whereby node operators earn WCT tokens, based on their performance and contribution. Prominent organizations like Consensys, Ledger and Figment are among the network's node operators, underscoring its robustness and reliability.​

 is the native utility and governance token of the WalletConnect network. It has a total supply of 1 billion, 

Initially, WCT is nontransferable to ensure that tokens remain within the WalletConnect ecosystem, supporting its focus on network functionality and development. Based on discussions within the community, transfers will be enabled based on community consensus and future governance decisions.

Where to buy the WalletConnect token (WCT)

 on Bybit Spot, and as a Perpetual contract with up to 75x 

. Bybit provides a secure and user-friendly platform for buying and selling WCT, allowing users to participate in the WalletConnect ecosystem. 

How to trade the WalletConnect token (WCT) on Bybit

Bybit's platform ensures efficient execution and provides various tools to assist users in their trading journey with ease.​ 

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WalletConnect (WCT): Bridging web3 beyond wallets and DApps

Circle has launched the Circle Payments Network (CPN), a global payment solution designed to streamline cross-border transactions using stablecoins like USDC and EURC for real-time settlement. 

The S&P 500 rose 2.51% as investor confidence improved following President Trump’s support for Fed Chair Powell and hints of easing U.S.-China trade tensions, despite tempered optimism and Tesla’s earnings miss. Gold rebounds toward $3,400 as the US Dollar weakens and investor caution lingers over US-China trade and Fed concerns. Technicals suggest a possible pullback, with focus shifting to upcoming S&P Global PMI data. The Coindesk Indices, which tracks the broader crypto market, rose 7.46%, with Bitcoin and Ether up 4.68% and 7.70%, respectively, in the past 24 hours. Trade these markets and more with up to 500x leverage on Bybit MT5 using this 

Today's top performer is DEEP, up 122.1%, following the launch of DeepBook v3.1 on Sui, which unlocks permissionless pools, enhanced balance management, and cost-efficiency for DeFi.

DeepBook (DEEP), launched on July 12, 2023,  is Sui’s native liquidity layer, using a central limit order book to enable high-throughput, low-slippage, and low-fee trading. 

, introduces several key upgrades: permissionless pools, revamped fee mechanics, and enhanced balance management. These changes make DeepBook more accessible, composable, and cost-efficient for DeFi users. Permissionless pools allow anyone to create custom trading pairs, while the enhanced balance manager supports third-party liquidations and improves protocol stability and user experience.

Check out the latest prices, charts, and data of 

, a global payment solution designed to streamline cross-border transactions using stablecoins like USDC and EURC for real-time settlement. CPN offers faster, programmable, secure, and always-available money movement for financial institutions. It supports services like invoice payments, remittances, treasury services, and payroll payouts. Over 20 design partners, including dLocal, WorldRemit, and BVNK, are contributing to building a more efficient global payments infrastructure.

Yesterday, Bitcoin spot ETFs saw $719.2M in total inflows, with $654.1M from non-GBTC funds and $65.1M from GBTC.

 its incentivized testnet, allowing users to earn $SO tokens by testing its cross-chain lending platform. By supplying and borrowing assets across chains and completing quests, participants earn "Seeds," which will convert to $SO at TGE. Powered by LayerZero, Soul aims to unify liquidity across blockchains.

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Circle launches Circle Payments Network for faster, secure global transactions using stablecoins

VeChain (VET) is a blockchain platform focused on sustainability, using eco-friendly technology to support green initiatives across industries and drive a more sustainable future.

Sustainability is now the name of the game across many industries. The blockchain industry is one of them, with several projects aiming to reduce the energy impact of their operations or support green causes in other ways. However, on closer inspection, sustainability has received much less attention in the world of blockchain technology than many people may assume. Indeed, the industry's two leading data portals, CoinGecko and CoinMarketCap, have no "Sustainability" or similar category, despite coming up with hundreds of other classifications.

Some smaller-cap projects outside of the top 100, such as 

 (IOTA), do focus on supporting environmental causes. But in the entire list of top 100 cryptocurrencies by market cap, only one project can confidently be described as having sustainability as its key pillar — 

With a market cap of $2 billion (as of the time of writing on Apr 22, 2025), VeChain stands head and shoulders above any other crypto project in the sustainability niche. The project has been fully operational since 2018, and is among the oldest environmentally focused blockchain initiatives. In short, if we talk about sustainability and blockchain, it would be disingenuous not to mention VeChain and its 

Having championed green blockchain causes since 2018, VeChain announced a significant upgrade initiative in late 2024 to be rolled out in stages during 2025. Called Renaissance, it’s envisioned to further solidify VeChain's position as the leader of eco-friendly blockchain use and introduce a host of technical improvements. In fact, 2025 is the year of the most fundamental upgrade to this notable industry player in its entire history on the market, so it's precisely the time to revisit this project in our coverage.

VeChain (VET) is a decentralized project designed to support sustainability-focused blockchain use cases across various industry verticals.

 The company was first conceptualized and founded as a blockchain project in 2015 by Chinese technology professional Sunny Lu. It launched its Layer 1 network, VeChainThor (VTHO), in mid-2018, becoming one of the first decentralized initiatives to support eco-friendly applications on-chain. The VeChainThor network features low transaction fees and high levels of scalability.

For years, the VeChain blockchain has remained probably the leading decentralized platform in the niche of sustainability. As of April 2025, it retains the leadership position, and is ranked 56th among all cryptocurrencies, with a market cap of $2 billion.

VeChain's sustainable blockchain technology

Many blockchains claiming to support environmental causes typically use the 

, which is indeed much more energy-efficient than the power-hungry 

 (BTC). By using PoS, these blockchains have boldly announced that their energy use is much lower than Bitcoin's. While this is true, these platforms are essentially general-purpose networks that don't specifically design their operations with any particular sustainability use case in mind.

Instead of these two typical consensus mechanisms, the VeChainThor blockchain uses 

 (PoA), touted to be even more energy-efficient than the standard PoS employed by 

 chains. In a typical PoA consensus, a smaller number of validators with "authority" — i.e., a history of reliable behavior on the network — are entrusted to process blocks. This is in contrast to PoS, whereby many validators take part in the staking contest to outperform each other in terms of token holdings. They then receive the right to validate the next block, and have to constantly align their consensus process with other 

As a result, PoS is usually less energy-efficient than PoA. VeChain's PoA model elegantly combines efficient processing, minimal energy use and high levels of enterprise-grade security.

The VeChainThor blockchain network's processing engine also features compatibility with the 

 (EVM), making cross-chain communication with the Ethereum world much easier for VeChain developers and 

PoA block validation isn’t the only sustainability-minded feature of VeChain. Unlike many other popular chains, VeChain also directly enables sustainability use cases, primarily by utilizing its tamperproof and transparent data-tracking mechanism. Thus, enterprises across different industries can track and reliably verify the origin of goods and their sustainability status for eco-friendly supply chain management. For instance, supermarket chains can use the platform to track and verify the carbon footprint of the produce they source; logistics companies can calculate the overall emissions generated along their supply chains; and fashion brands can track sustainable sourcing of materials used for their product lines.

Besides its own blockchain, the project also offers a blockchain-as-a-service (BaaS) platform, VeChain ToolChain, to help businesses integrate VeChain's technology into their business processes via standardized smart contract services.

To further position itself as a champion of sustainability, VeChain launched 

 represents an on-chain ecosystem of DApps that reward VeChain users for completing various eco-friendly tasks, such as using reusable coffee cups, shopping for organic products, picking litter off streets and more. VeBetterDAO is the project’s foray into the individual consumer side of environmentalism, which complements the VeChain platform’s long-standing sustainability features for the enterprise world.

In late 2024, VeChain first announced its planned multi-stage upgrade, Renaissance, to make the platform even more efficient. Its changes are envisioned to take place gradually throughout 2025, and possibly beyond. The Renaissance upgrade touches many parts of the platform, with three key areas involved — a new VeChain staking and node model, technical updates and changes to the dual token mechanism. We'll cover the first two areas below, and the changes to VeChain’s tokenomics in the next section.

VeChain’s PoA block validation model uses a group of 101 trusted Authority Masternodes (AMs) who will fully transition to Validators under the new Renaissance model by December 2025. Each Authority Masternode is approved by the VeChain Foundation. These nodes are responsible for generating transaction blocks. You’ll need to 

 at least 25 million VET to participate in block production, which occurs in fixed 14-day cycles.

Under the platform’s pre-Renaissance model, there are two more types of specialized nodes — Economic and X-Nodes — who stake their tokens to a selected AM/Validator and participate in 

 on the platform. After the Renaissance upgrade is fully rolled out, Economic nodes and X-Nodes will be replaced by a tiered system of Delegator nodes.

Delegators will need to stake a certain amount of VET tokens to mint Delegator 

, which will entitle them to different grades of staking reward multipliers. The more you stake, the higher grade of NFT you receive, and the higher your staking rewards will be. When blocks are produced, AMs/Validators will receive 30% of the total block reward, with the remaining 70% going to holders of the Delegator NFTs.

The image below shows the new Delegator NFT–tiered model, with minimum VET staking requirements and reward multipliers.

While the VeChainThor network is EVM-compatible, there are still differences between its technical parameters and the standard EVM used by Ethereum. For this reason, the Renaissance upgrade aims to reach full EVM compatibility, including implementing the JSON-RPC (

remote procedure call) extensively employed within the Ethereum blockchain.

As part of the Renaissance upgrade, the project will also introduce a new set of tools to achieve more seamless cross-chain capabilities. This will involve integrating new 

The VeChain token model has always been based on two cryptocurrencies: VET and VTHO. VET is the 

 that acts as the main means of value storage and transfer on the platform, while VTHO is used to pay for gas. Now, the Renaissance upgrade also changes the way the dual-token mechanism operates.

Before the upgrade fully kicks in, VTHO is still generated by simply holding VET. After the Renaissance, only staked VET will generate new VTHO for the holder. This should better align VTHO with the active participation of users on the platform. VTHO's inflation rate will also be cut by over 70%, as its issuance will be aligned to a new emission model that considers the total amount of VET staked on the platform.

To further reduce the inflationary properties of VTHO, 100% of all base transaction fees on the network, which are all paid with VTHO, will be 

VET is the platform’s value transfer and storage token. It’s also used for governance and access to various features and apps on the network. VET is a supply-capped token with a max supply of just over 86.7 billion. These properties will not change following the Renaissance upgrade.

VTHO, which is used to pay for gas fees on VeChainThor, is an inflationary token with an uncapped supply. It currently has a total supply of almost 88,7 billion. As noted above, after Renaissance, VTHO will be generated via staking only, and will feature a burn mechanism to reduce its inflation rate.

 as a swap pair with USDT, and on the Derivatives market as the 

In addition, you can take advantage of Bybit’s event dedicated to the VET token to grab a share of a 

. New users can earn VET rewards by accumulating a deposit volume of at least 5,000 VET, or by depositing at least 100 USDT and trading 100 USDT worth of VET via their first Spot trade using their Bybit account. Meanwhile, existing users can also qualify for rewards by trading at least 500 USDT worth of VET on the Bybit Spot market. The event runs through Apr 28, 2025, 9AM UTC.

As of Apr 23, 2025, the VET token is trading at $0.02576, which is 90.8% lower than its ATH of $0.281 on Apr 19, 2021, and 1,243.2% higher than its ATL of $0.001917 on Mar 13, 2020.

Long-term price forecasts for VET are mostly bullish. DigitalCoinPrice 

 of $0.088 in 2027 and $0.14 in 2030, while PricePrediction 

In the long term, VET might even rise to $1, at least according to PricePrediction’s forecast. Its portal is highly optimistic, estimating that VET will hit the $1 mark in 2034.

You might consider investing in the VeChain token VET based on the following:

When Sunny Lu created VeChain in 2015, his vision focused on sustainability issues. VeChain's work in this area has led to the creation of the first decentralized network truly dedicated to making a tangible environmental impact. The entire VeChain ecosystem — including the VeChainThor blockchain platform, VeBetterDAO and VeChain Toolchain — continues to serve as a significant enabler of sustainable technology in the business world.

Now, with the Renaissance upgrade being rolled out for the duration of 2025, VeChain aims to solidify its leadership in this sphere. With the Renaissance upon us, it's hard to see any blockchain platform that could challenge VeChain in the area of sustainability anytime soon.

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What is VeChain (VET): Building a sustainable future for all

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Altcoins

Stablecoin

Tether (USDT) is the most popular stablecoin on the market. In this article, we reveal all you need to know about USDT.

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Picture a digital currency that remains stable despite the wild ride of the cryptocurrency market. This intriguing concept has the potential to revolutionize the way we transact and invest in the world of digital currencies. Enter Tether (USDT), a 

 that has managed to maintain a steady valuation amidst the turbulence of the crypto market. But what is USDT exactly? It’s a digital token pegged to the value of a fiat currency, providing stability and ease of use in the volatile world of cryptocurrencies.

Tether (USDT) is a cryptocurrency stablecoin designed to maintain a 1:1 ratio with the U.S. dollar, with each token being backed by Tether’s reserves.

 As one of the most widely adopted stablecoins, USDT has gained significant market capitalization since its inception, making it a popular choice for those looking to buy Tether. 

Besides USDT, Tether is also available in three other currencies: euro (EUR), Mexican peso (MXN) and offshore Chinese yuan (CNH). These Tether tokens are represented as EURT, MXNT and CNHT, respectively.

But why is a stable digital currency so important? In the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies, market volatility can be both thrilling and anxiety-inducing. A stablecoin like Tether offers a less volatile option for traders and businesses, providing a secure digital asset that is less susceptible to the fluctuations of other digital currencies.

 in 2014, initially launching as RealCoin before rebranding to Tether later that year. The founders intended to create a stablecoin that could provide consistent prices and user-friendly transactions in the cryptocurrency market. Since then, Tether has become an integral part of the digital token ecosystem, providing:

The foundation of USDT’s stability lies in its pegging mechanism, which sustains a 1:1 ratio with the U.S. dollar, supported by Tether’s reserves. The peg of this currency is kept stable by keeping the same value of reserves in USD as in the total amount of USDT circulating. These reserves help maintain the peg of this currency against the USD. This stability is essential for traders looking to hedge against market volatility, as it offers a dependable store of value.

But how does Tether ensure this stability? By integrating with various cryptocurrency networks, such as:

Tether can undertake periodic examinations to guarantee security and adherence, addressing any tether claims that may arise.

Tether carries a significant role in the crypto market, offering traders a steady asset to offset market volatility and supplying liquidity for diverse platforms. Its benefits include:

As a result, USDT is a valuable tool for cryptocurrency users.

The primary benefit of USDT to traders lies in its stability. With a value pegged to the U.S. dollar, USDT allows traders to circumvent the volatility of other cryptocurrencies while maintaining a stable store of value. This makes it a popular choice for various applications and platforms in the digital token ecosystem. The use of 

USDT is continuously rising at an accelerated pace, with over 330 million on-chain wallets and accounts recorded to have received USDT as of December2024.

During periods of market turbulence, Tether (USDT) provides a safe haven for investors seeking to protect their investments and minimize losses. By maintaining a stable value, traders can take advantage of the benefits of digital currencies without the inherent risks associated with price volatility.

For instance, Chinese importers of inexpensive goods in Russia use USDT on a daily basis to transfer millions home, exemplifying the real-world applications of this stablecoin.

Due to its broad acceptance and substantial reserves, USDT serves as a dependable liquidity source for numerous platforms and exchanges. By providing exceptional liquidity on tier one exchanges, Tether tokens offer traders the ability to take advantage of arbitrage opportunities, asset balancing, and cash equivalents.

The liquidity provided by USDT has a considerable influence on the stability of the crypto market. By supplying a stable and dependable value, USDT:

Tether initially functioned on the Omni Layer Protocol, a platform constructed on the Bitcoin blockchain, offering a steady digital asset for the crypto market. 

Tether then expanded its integration to other blockchains, including Ethereum, TRON and others, increasing its accessibility and utility for various applications and platforms. 

With the rising popularity of USDT usage on other chains, especially Ethereum and TRON, Tether discontinued its support for Omni in August 2024 due to its lack of popularity among users. However, Tether has 

 layer above Bitcoin, and is considering RGB as a leading option. As Bitcoin’s 

 (DeFi) capabilities have notably expanded with the introduction of 

, a USDT comeback is poised to leverage this growth.

By connecting tether tokens with various cryptocurrency networks, Tether’s Blockchain Integration allows for the secure and compliant transfer and trading of Tether token.

The Omni Layer Protocol is a layer built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain that facilitates the generation, transmission, trading, and redemption of digital tokens. This protocol enabled Tether to issue USDT tokens on the Bitcoin blockchain, providing a secure and well-established platform for the digital asset.

By utilizing the Omni Layer Protocol, Tether was able to provide a stable digital currency for the cryptocurrency market, offering users a secure and dependable store of value.

As Tether expanded beyond the Omni Layer Protocol, it integrated with the Ethereum blockchain, issuing 

 tokens to enable users to easily transfer and trade Tether on the Ethereum blockchain. This integration increased the accessibility and utility of Tether for various applications and platforms, making it a popular choice for users in the digital token ecosystem.

In addition to Ethereum, Tether now supports a range of other blockchains, with the highest usage on TRON, BNB Chain and Ethereum. On Oct 16, 2024, 

 networks like Optimism, Arbitrum and Polygon over the past year. Its recent release on the TON blockchain has also led to a growth spurt of 3.3 million additional users in just six months. 

Beyond USDT, Tether Limited has also introduced Tether Gold (XAUT), a digital asset backed by physical gold

, as well as Alloy by Tether (aUSDT), a stable USD asset backed by Tether Gold,

 showcasing the company’s dedication to providing diverse options for the crypto market.

 (XAUt) is an ERC-20 stablecoin backed by gold on a 1:1 basis with one fine troy ounce of gold equivalent to a physical bar of gold. This enables holders to benefit from gold’s inflation-hedging qualities without drawbacks such as storage expenses and limited liquidity. XAUt holders can redeem their stablecoins for physical gold at any time, to be delivered at a location chosen by the holder in Switzerland, with redemptions limited to holders holding at least 430 XAUt tokens. XAUt holders can also request Tether Gold help sell their gold in the Swiss gold market, then receive the proceeds from the transaction.

 (aUSDT) is a type of tethered asset tied to Tether Gold (XAUt). aUSDT can be minted by using XAUt as collateral, resulting in a synthetic, gold-backed dollar that can be used for spending, investing or saving. The stability of the token is maintained through overcollateralization, whereby users have to deposit more of the collateral than the value of aUSDT they wish to mint. This overcollateralization is managed by liquidators, who may liquidate some of the XAUt collateral if it falls below the level required for maintaining the aUSDT.

The process of acquiring and using USDT is straightforward. Users can purchase USDT on various exchanges using fiat currencies or other cryptocurrencies. Once acquired, USDT can be stored in a secure digital 

USDT can be employed in a range of transactions, including trading, lending, and buying goods and services, whether on or off the blockchain.

USDT can be purchased on various exchanges, such as Bybit, using fiat currencies like euros or U.S. dollars. The transaction fees associated with buying USDT on different cryptocurrency exchanges can vary, ranging from 0.05% to 0.25%. It is advisable to check the specific fees for each exchange before making a purchase.

When acquiring USDT, users can choose from a variety of crypto exchanges that support fiat currency or cryptocurrency transactions, making the process of obtaining and trading USDT convenient and straightforward.

Storing USDT in a secure wallet is essential for protecting your investment and ensuring easy access to your funds. There are a variety of wallet options available, including hardware wallets, software wallets, and exchanges.

For added security, users can opt for cold storage, a method of storing cryptocurrencies offline in a secure digital wallet, protecting their USDT from potential cyber attacks and unauthorized access.

USDT can be used for various transactions, including trading, lending, and purchasing goods and services, both on and off the blockchain. By offering a stable store of value, USDT enables users to transact with blockchain-based assets while mitigating price risk and enjoying the advantages of transparency, stability, and low fees associated with traditional currencies.

Some examples of goods and services that can be purchased using USDT include:

Tether is an integral part of the digital token ecosystem, providing stability and liquidity to various platforms and exchanges. However, it

 has encountered numerous controversies and risks, including transparency concerns related to Tether’s reserves and legal conflicts with regulatory bodies. These challenges have led to doubts about its liquidity and stability, prompting investigations by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the New York Attorney General.

Tether remains the largest stablecoin by 

, with widespread adoption within the crypto world and varied uses from trading to investment

Tether’s transparency regarding its reserves has been questioned, leading to doubts about its liquidity and stability. The lack of independent third-party audits and inadequate reporting has caused concerns and elicited criticism from regulators and the crypto community.

To address these concerns, Tether has implemented several strategies,

 including publishing a quarterly reserves report and maintaining a liquidity cushion of $3.3 billion. However, Tether has faced ongoing criticism for not being fully transparent, as its reserves report has never been submitted to a third-party audit.

Tether has faced legal battles and fines due to its business practices, including an $18.5 million fine from the New York Attorney General’s office for mingling client and corporate funds in February 2021. Additionally, Tether was subjected to a $41 million fine in October 2021 by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission for providing unlawful off-exchange financed retail commodity transactions with U.S. persons who were not eligible contract participants. 

In response to these fines, Tether has entered into settlements to bolster its banking relationships and legal structure.

Additionally, Tether’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, has emphasized the company's commitment to preventing criminal misuse of its currency, noting that Tether has actively worked with law enforcement agencies since its 2014 launch to recover $108.8 million in USDT linked to illegal activities.

, Tether’s operations were reportedly once again put under investigation by the United States government concerning its potential use for money laundering and other illicit activities. Tether has issued a statement in response to this report from 

, criticizing it as unfounded and irresponsible journalism.

Despite past regulatory challenges, Tether has recently collaborated with U.S. lawmakers to help shape stablecoin policies, as 

. This demonstrates its commitment to compliance and maintaining legal and financial integrity amid evolving regulations.

USDT is frequently compared to other stablecoins like USDC and DAI, each presenting distinct features and advantages for users. While all three maintain a 1:1 peg with the U.S. dollar, the backing mechanisms and transparency levels vary between them.

Understanding the differences between these stablecoins can help cryptocurrency users make informed decisions about which option best suits their needs and preferences.

 maintain a 1:1 peg with the U.S. dollar, but USDC is backed by fiat currency deposits stored in regulated banks, while USDT’s backing is less transparent. USDC, issued by members of the CENTRE consortium, is valued for its transparency and fully collateralized nature, while USDT is more frequently utilized for trading and payments.

Although both stablecoins are popular choices for various applications and platforms, their unique features and backing mechanisms make them suitable for different use cases.

USDT and DAI are both stablecoins, but DAI is a decentralized stablecoin backed by collateralized debt positions, offering a more transparent and decentralized alternative to Tether. DAI is generated, backed, and kept stable through the use of Ethereum-based assets deposited into a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) called MakerDAO.

By understanding the differences between USDT, USDC, and DAI, cryptocurrency users can make more informed decisions about which stablecoin best meets their needs and preferences.

 (USDT) has made a significant impact on the cryptocurrency market by providing a stable digital asset for traders and businesses. Its unique pegging mechanism, integration with various blockchain platforms, and widespread acceptance make it a valuable tool in the digital currency ecosystem. Despite facing controversies and risks, Tether continues to play a crucial role in the market, offering stability and liquidity to various platforms. By understanding the differences between USDT and other stablecoins, users can make informed decisions about which option best suits their needs, ultimately leading to a more secure and efficient digital currency experience.

USD and USDT are two distinct currencies; USD is a physical currency issued and backed by the U.S. government, while USDT is a digital currency backed by an equivalent amount of USD held in reserve.

What Is USDT? A Beginner’s Guide to Tether (2025)

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