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Tether (USDT)

C+
Single Custodian (Cantor Fitzgerald)SPOFTraders & Emerging Markets

Tether issues USDT, the largest stablecoin by market cap with over $145B in circulation. Reserves are primarily held in US Treasury bills through Cantor Fitzgerald. Tether publishes quarterly attestation reports through BDO Italia but has never completed a full independent audit. Despite transparency concerns, USDT dominates global trading volume and emerging market dollar access.

62
Custody & SecurityEase of UseFeesFeaturesTransparencySupport
Score Breakdown
Custody & Security35% weight
55
Ease of Use20% weight
82
Fees15% weight
80
Features10% weight
72
Transparency10% weight
42
Support10% weight
52
Assessment
Key Strength

Largest stablecoin by market cap ($145B+). Deepest liquidity across all exchanges and chains. Dominant in emerging market remittance and trading.

Primary Risk

No full independent audit has ever been published. Quarterly attestations by BDO Italia provide limited assurance. Reserve composition has historically included commercial paper and secured loans. GENIUS Act compliance is uncertain.

Pros
  • +Deepest liquidity of any stablecoin
  • +Available on virtually every exchange
  • +Critical for emerging market dollar access
  • +Strong revenue generation ($13B+ profit in 2024)
Cons
  • -No full independent audit ever published
  • -Opaque reserve management history
  • -BVI jurisdiction limits regulatory oversight
  • -GENIUS Act compliance uncertain
  • -Past settlement with NY Attorney General ($18.5M)
Custody Features
Multisig
Multi-Institution
No Single Point of Failure
Segregated Accounts
Proof of Reserves
Insurance
Regulated Custodian
No Physical Exposure
Multi-Jurisdiction
Inheritance
Segregated Insurance
IRA
Lending
Buy/Sell
Dynasty Trusts
Fees
0.1% redemption fee
Minimum$100K (direct redemption)
Security
Key Management
Centralized treasury management
SOC Compliance
None published
Insurance & Regulatory
Jurisdiction
British Virgin Islands / El Salvador
Licenses
El Salvador DASP