USDT vs USDC: what is the difference
USDT and USDC are both stablecoins designed to track the US dollar. Who issues them, on which networks they exist and how to exchange one for the other.
USDT (Tether) and USDC (USD Coin) are the two best-known stablecoins. Both are designed to track the value of the US dollar, but they are issued by different companies and are separate assets.
Main differences
| Issuer | Tether | Circle |
|---|---|---|
| Designed to track | US dollar | US dollar |
| Widely used on | TRON, Ethereum and other networks | Ethereum, Solana, Base and other networks |
| Accepted by | Depends on the wallet, exchange and network | Depends on the wallet, exchange and network |
Price
Both stablecoins are designed to stay close to one US dollar, but their market price can deviate slightly. An exchange between USDT and USDC also uses a floating rate.
How to exchange one for the other
Choose the coin and network you send and the coin and network you receive. For example: USDT TRC20 → USDC (Ethereum), USDC (Ethereum) → USDT TRC20, USDC (Solana) → USDT TRC20.
USDT and USDC on different networks are different directions with their own minimum amounts. Send only on the network shown in your exchange.
Terms in this guide
Stablecoin
A token designed to keep a stable value, usually tied to the US dollar, for example USDT or USDC. Its market price can deviate slightly.
Token
An asset created on top of a network, such as USDT on TRON or on Ethereum. A token uses the addresses of its network, and the network fee for sending it is paid in the native coin of that network.
Floating rate
A rate that is not fixed in advance: the final amount depends on the rate at the time your exchange is processed and may differ from the preliminary estimate.