USDTvsUSDC
Tether vs USD Coin — side-by-side comparison of supply, chains, backing, and peg data.
Side-by-side
USDT — Tether
USDC — USD Coin
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 USDC -1.6% — USDT grew faster. USDC held the tighter band: worst deviation 5 bps against 14 bps.
Key differences
- USDT is roughly 2.5× larger than USDC by USD circulation value ($183.08B vs $72.21B).
- USDT ranks #1 while USDC ranks #2 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.
- Both report the same reserve type — cash & t-bills. What differs is who holds them: Tether Limited for USDT, Circle for USDC.
- Chain coverage is comparable: USDT on 130 chains, USDC on 154.
- Primary chain differs — most USDT supply lives on Tron, while most USDC supply is on Ethereum.
Full comparison table
| Metric | USDT | USDC |
|---|---|---|
| USD circulation value | $183.08B | $72.21B |
| Rank (by USD value) | #1 | #2 |
| Peg | USD | USD |
| Mechanism | fiat-backed | fiat-backed |
| Backing | Cash & T-bills | Cash & T-bills |
| Chains deployed | 130 | 154 |
| Primary chain | Tron | Ethereum |
| Issuer | Tether Limited | Circle |
| CoinGecko | View → | View → |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between USDT and USDC?
Both track USD, so they compete for the same use cases. Both report the same reserve type, cash & t-bills, held by Tether Limited and Circle respectively. USDT ranks #1 by USD value and USDC ranks #2.
Which is bigger, USDT or USDC?
USDT is larger, with $183.08B in circulation vs $72.21B for USDC. That's roughly 2.5× the size.
Is USDT safer than USDC?
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 USDC?
Yes. USDT and USDC 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 USDC?
The right choice depends on your use case. Consider: which chain do you need? USDT is available on 130 chains and USDC on 154. 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.