Stablecoins USDC and USDT: Which Is the Best?

Stablecoins are a critical cornerstone of the crypto market and offer digital assets designed to mitigate the volatility usually seen in the crypto sector.

Stablecoins are a critical cornerstone of the crypto market and offer digital assets designed to mitigate the volatility usually seen in the digital asset sector. Two of the most widely used stablecoin options are USD Coin (USDC) and Tether (USDT), which are each designed to maintain a value of one US dollar, though not in precisely the same way.

While both serve a similar purpose, they have significant differences in backing, regulatory compliance, and overall market metrics that can all substantially impact your personal investing or trading strategy. In this post, we’ll be getting into the nitty-gritty of USDT and USDC so that you can get a clearer picture of which one suits your portfolio best.

What is a Fiat-Backed Stablecoin?

Fiat-backed stablecoins are crypto assets that represent the same value as traditional fiat currencies, in this case, the world-favorite US dollar. Each token theoretically holds the same value as one US dollar held in reserve assets by the issuer.

Stablecoins are designed to maintain price stability, unlike many conventional digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which are plagued with high volatility. For many investors, such features can make them a reliable ‘safe haven’ for investors who don’t want to park extra cash in more volatile crypto assets. Their stable value also makes them perfect for everyday transactions, cross-border payments, or just parking funds digitally.

Major stablecoins like USDT and USDC rely on conventional, regulated financial institutions or third-party custodians to store the collateral backing the asset. This collateral can include cash or other fiat currency, short-term treasury bills, or various other assets.

By making sure that each token minted has corresponding reserves, the stablecoin market stays tightly pegged to the US dollar. This strategy is known as the ‘tokenized dollar’ approach, and it adds convenience in the trading, holding, or transferring of stablecoins across various blockchain networks without encumbering users in the conventional friction of banking services.

What is USDC (USD Coin)?

USD Coin is a stablecoin created by the Centre Consortium, which is a collaboration between crypto giant Coinbase and Circle. USDC is designed to stay locked at 1:1 with the US dollar, and each token is backed by cash and short-term Treasury instruments.

Each month, Circle issues third-party assurances that outline its reserves and reinforce its fully transparent collateralization. USDC is comparatively new but gained critical traction quickly, thanks in no small part to powerful partnerships, widespread adoption across multiple blockchains, including Solana, Ethereum, and Avalanche, and a foundational role in DeFi.

USDC volume and market cap

Data from CoinMarketCap shows that USDC’s market cap stands at around $60.10 billion, ranking it among the largest stablecoins. Its daily trading volume hovers near $11.25 billion, reflecting robust demand from traders and institutions across centralized and decentralized exchanges.

USDC stability

USDC aims to reduce de-pegging risks by publishing frequent attestations through respected accounting firms. The partnership with well-known financial institutions also bolsters investor confidence. While market volatility can temporarily influence USDC’s price, it typically remains close to one dollar, thanks in large part to transparent reserve management.

What is USDT (Tether)?

USDT is the most widely used stablecoin and leads all other fiat-pegged assets in the crypto space. It was created in 2014 and was one of the first tokens to popularize the concept of a digital asset pegged to the US dollar. Each token is algorithmically locked to one dollar in liquid reserve assets, though the reserve structure and disclosures have faced scrutiny over the years.

USDT volume and market cap

USDT’s market capitalization is approximately $143.99 billion, making it the largest stablecoin by a considerable margin. Its 24-hour trading volume frequently surpasses $60 billion, highlighting the high liquidity that is crucial for traders and institutions who want to move in and out of volatile crypto positions. Due to this massive volume, USDT is the most popular quote currency on numerous exchanges, particularly for popular trading pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT.

USDT stability

Tether’s resilience in maintaining its dollar peg for nearly a decade is notable, but it has faced persistent questions over the exact composition and transparency of its reserves. The company has committed to improved reporting, but critics and detractors still push for greater insight into collateral assets.

USDC vs USDT: Key Differences

Launch Date

USDT debuted in 2014 as the first stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, giving it a longer track record and a gracious head start in building global liquidity. USDC just appeared in 2018 through a collaboration between Circle and Coinbase to create a regulated pedigree in the stablecoin crypto ecosystem.

Winner: USDT for greater longevity.

Market Cap

With a market capitalization of more than $60B, USDC’s market cap