Tether has decided not to freeze USDT smart contracts on five blockchains. The change comes after feedback from users of those networks. The company will no longer issue or redeem tokens on those chains, but existing tokens can still move.
The decision applies to Omni Layer, Bitcoin Cash SLP, Kusama, EOS, and Algorand. In a public note, Tether stated:
“Following the feedback from the communities of these discontinued blockchains, Tether has revised this approach and will not freeze the smart contracts on these networks.”
Issuance Ends, Transfers Remain Possible
Tether is stopping redemptions and new USDT issuances on archived chains. Circulating USDT can continue to be transferred. Although these token versions will continue to work, Tether will not support or update the tokens going forward.
The initial plan was to freeze the contracts by September 1, 2025. This change allows users on these chains to move their tokens, but there will be no official support, unlike USDT on Ethereum or Tron.
Omni Layer Holds Largest Balance of Discontinued USDT
Among the five affected networks, Omni Layer holds the highest amount of USDT—around $82.9 million. EOS holds about $4.2 million, while the other three—Algorand, Bitcoin Cash SLP, and Kusama—each hold under $1 million.
Tether began phasing out support for these chains in 2023. That August, it said it would no longer issue USDT on Omni, Kusama, and Bitcoin Cash SLP. In June 2024, EOS and Algorand were added to the list, and minting was stopped there as well.
Focus Shifts to High-Use Networks
Tether is adjusting its focus to chains with higher user activity and stronger developer bases. Ethereum and Tron currently lead in USDT use. DeFiLlama data shows about $72.4 billion on Ethereum and $80.9 billion on Tron. BNB Chain ranks third with $6.78 billion.
Other chains, such as Arbitrum, Solana, and Base, are also active in stablecoin use, though many of these rely more on USDC. Tether will continue to focus on platforms where stablecoin usage is highest and most consistent.
As of now, stablecoins have a total market cap of $285.9 billion. Tether’s USDT accounts for $167.4 billion, followed by Circle’s USDC at $71.5 billion, according to CoinGecko.
