Tether's U-Turn: Why They're Not Freezing USDT on Older Blockchains

A Shift in Strategy

Tether, the company behind the popular USDT stablecoin, has had a change of heart. They won't freeze USDT on older blockchains like Bitcoin Cash, Kusama, EOS, and Algorand. Instead, they're labeling these networks as "unsupported."

This means users can still move their tokens, but Tether won't issue or redeem USDT on these platforms anymore.

Community Backlash and Reversal

This decision comes after weeks of backlash from the community. Initially, Tether planned to freeze USDT on these networks starting September 1, 2025. This would have made the tokens visible but useless, as they couldn't be moved or redeemed.

However, developers and users, especially those on smaller networks like EOS and Algorand, weren't happy with this plan.

A Strategic Move

Tether's new approach is a way to avoid a big fight. By not freezing the tokens, they can slowly phase out support for these networks without causing a huge uproar. It's a smart move, as it allows them to focus on networks with more activity.

New Developments: USDT on Bitcoin

Interestingly, this announcement came just after Tether revealed plans to issue a native USDT on Bitcoin using the RGB protocol. This is a big deal because it means USDT will be directly integrated into Bitcoin's ecosystem, making it more secure.

Currently, most USDT is on Ethereum and Tron, with smaller amounts on Solana and a few other networks.

Focus on Growth

By dropping support for these older networks, Tether is showing that they want to focus on platforms with more users. It's a strategic move that could help them grow and improve their services.