USDTvsRLUSD
Tether vs Ripple USD — side-by-side comparison of supply, chains, backing, and peg data.
Side-by-side
USDT — Tether
RLUSD — Ripple USD
30-day peg stability dotted line = target · both charts share one scale
What the last 30 days show
Over the last 30 days USDT supply moved -0.6% and RLUSD +2.2% — RLUSD grew faster. RLUSD held the tighter band: worst deviation 2 bps against 14 bps.
Key differences
- USDT is roughly 115.6× larger than RLUSD by USD circulation value ($183.08B vs $1.58B).
- USDT ranks #1 while RLUSD ranks #12 among all tracked stablecoins.
- Both are pegged to the same currency (USD), so they compete directly for the same use cases.
- Both are fiat-backed stablecoins, so the mechanism is not what separates them.
- Reserves differ — USDT holds cash & t-bills, RLUSD holds cash & deposits (ripple).
- USDT is deployed on 130 chains — much broader coverage than RLUSD's 2.
- Primary chain differs — most USDT supply lives on Tron, while most RLUSD supply is on XRPL.
Full comparison table
| Metric | USDT | RLUSD |
|---|---|---|
| USD circulation value | $183.08B | $1.58B |
| Rank (by USD value) | #1 | #12 |
| Peg | USD | USD |
| Mechanism | fiat-backed | fiat-backed |
| Backing | Cash & T-bills | Cash & deposits (Ripple) |
| Chains deployed | 130 | 2 |
| Primary chain | Tron | XRPL |
| Issuer | Tether Limited | Ripple |
| CoinGecko | View → | View → |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between USDT and RLUSD?
Both track USD, so they compete for the same use cases. USDT holds cash & t-bills; RLUSD holds cash & deposits (ripple). USDT ranks #1 by USD value and RLUSD ranks #12.
Which is bigger, USDT or RLUSD?
USDT is larger, with $183.08B in circulation vs $1.58B for RLUSD. That's roughly 115.6× the size.
Is USDT safer than RLUSD?
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 fiat-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 USDT and RLUSD?
Yes. USDT and RLUSD 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 USDT or RLUSD?
The right choice depends on your use case. Consider: which chain do you need? USDT is available on 130 chains and RLUSD on 2. 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.