DAIvsU
Dai vs United Stables — side-by-side comparison of supply, chains, backing, and peg data.
Side-by-side
DAI — Dai
U — United Stables
30-day peg stability dotted line = target · both charts share one scale
What the last 30 days show
Over the last 30 days DAI supply moved -1.6% and U +17.4% — U grew faster. DAI held the tighter band: worst deviation 4 bps against 9 bps.
Key differences
- DAI is roughly 4.0× larger than U by USD circulation value ($4.79B vs $1.21B).
- DAI ranks #4 while U ranks #15 among all tracked stablecoins.
- Both are pegged to the same currency (USD), so they compete directly for the same use cases.
- Both are crypto-backed stablecoins, so the mechanism is not what separates them.
- Reserves differ — DAI holds overcollateralized crypto cdp, U holds stablecoin basket.
- DAI is deployed on 49 chains — much broader coverage than U's 3.
- Primary chain differs — most DAI supply lives on Ethereum, while most U supply is on BSC.
Full comparison table
| Metric | DAI | U |
|---|---|---|
| USD circulation value | $4.79B | $1.21B |
| Rank (by USD value) | #4 | #15 |
| Peg | USD | USD |
| Mechanism | crypto-backed | crypto-backed |
| Backing | Overcollateralized crypto CDP | Stablecoin basket |
| Chains deployed | 49 | 3 |
| Primary chain | Ethereum | BSC |
| Issuer | Sky (formerly MakerDAO) | — |
| CoinGecko | View → | View → |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between DAI and U?
Both track USD, so they compete for the same use cases. DAI holds overcollateralized crypto cdp; U holds stablecoin basket. DAI ranks #4 by USD value and U ranks #15.
Which is bigger, DAI or U?
DAI is larger, with $4.79B in circulation vs $1.21B for U. That's roughly 4.0× the size.
Is DAI safer than U?
Neither is inherently safer. Safety turns on reserve composition, issuer transparency, redemption rights and regulatory oversight — none of which this page audits. Both use a crypto-backed model, so the difference sits in the issuer and the reserves rather than the design. Read each issuer's most recent reserve attestation before choosing.
Can I convert between DAI and U?
Yes. DAI and U both trade on major centralized and decentralized exchanges. Since both track USD, the exchange rate is typically very close to 1:1. Direct swap protocols on Ethereum, Solana, and other chains offer the tightest spreads.
Should I choose DAI or U?
The right choice depends on your use case. Consider: which chain do you need? DAI is available on 49 chains and U on 3. What backing do you prefer? What's your integration surface (exchanges, DeFi protocols, payment providers)? Both have deep liquidity, so market cap alone shouldn't decide it.