Tether USDT usage has risen, becoming the preferred currency for salary payments and savings on Brighty, a leading European crypto banking platform, in 2024. According to Brighty’s “Crypto Earners’ Money Habits” report, Tether USDT accounted for an impressive 85% of all crypto deposits, solidifying its status as the most widely utilized cryptocurrency on the platform.
Brighty’s report, based on data from 200,000 users and additional surveys of 400 crypto earners across the European Union, revealed that Tether USDT dominated in both salary deposits and savings. With 85% of all crypto deposits attributed to Tether USDT, its popularity is evident. Additionally, it emerged as the second-largest savings asset after the euro, representing 33% of all business-to-customer (B2C) savings. This surge in Tether USDT usage underscores its growing role as a stable and reliable financial tool for crypto earners in Europe.
TRC-20 Tether USDT Usage Leads the Pack
The report highlights that TRC-20 Tether USDT, issued on the Tron blockchain, accounted for over 60% of all USDT transactions on Brighty. This overwhelming preference is driven by the lower transaction fees of TRC-20 compared to ERC-20 Tether USDT, which operates on the Ethereum blockchain and is associated with higher network costs. Brighty, a Swiss-based personal finance app, survey data further supports this trend, showing that 70% of respondents cited reduced transaction fees as their main reason for increasing Tether USDT usage for payments. The affordability and efficiency of TRC-20 Tether USDT have made it a standout choice for businesses and individuals alike.
While Tether USDT usage continues to dominate, competing cryptocurrencies lag behind significantly. USD Coin (USDC), a rival stablecoin, accounted for only 5% of all B2C deposits on Brighty. Similarly, Bitcoin (BTC), despite being the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, also captured just 5% of deposits. The substantial lead in Tether USDT usage highlights its widespread acceptance and trust among crypto users in Europe.
Regulatory Challenges Ahead for Tether USDT Usage
Despite its dominance, Tether USDT usage in Europe faces potential challenges under the evolving Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework. MiCA, aimed at standardizing crypto regulations across the EU, has positioned USDC as a compliant stablecoin, leaving Tether USDT at a crossroads. While USDC has obtained a MiCA license, Tether has resisted certain compliance requirements, leading to concerns about its future availability on European platforms.
Brighty’s, co-founder and chief technology officer, Nick Denisenko, highlighted the complexities of this transition, stating, “Historically, Tether USDT represented more than half of all crypto utilized by users. We expect a challenging transition to USDC, and users will need a lot of time to adapt to the changes.”
This shift may significantly impact Tether USDT usage if European crypto asset service providers (CASPs) are forced to restrict noncompliant stablecoins. Brighty integrates traditional digital banking with stablecoins and decentralized finance. The platform offers crypto exchanges for various fiat currencies and targets global digital nomads, a group expected to reach 60 million by 2030. Despite regulatory hurdles, Brighty remains committed to supporting Tether USDT usage while seeking a MiCA license to maintain compliance.
Tether USDT usage has set new records in 2024, becoming the dominant currency for salary payments and savings on Brighty. Its stability, low transaction fees, and strong user trust have positioned it as the top choice among crypto earners in Europe. While MiCA regulations present challenges, the widespread reliance on Tether USDT underscores its significance in the evolving crypto market.
As Europe transitions to a stricter regulatory framework, Tether USDT usage will likely remain a pivotal part of the crypto ecosystem, shaping the future of payments and savings. For crypto earners and businesses, Tether USDT continues to be a reliable and efficient financial solution
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