What is USDT payment?

USDT payment refers to transactions conducted using Tether, a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, which has become one of the most mainstream payment tools in the cryptocurrency field. With technological advancements, it is transitioning from exchanges to subways, stores, and cross-border trade, penetrating into the daily lives of ordinary people.

Real scenarios implemented, USDT payment breaks through the boundaries of cryptocurrencies

In July 2024, Web3 shopping platform UQUID announced support for Argentine users to recharge the SUBE public transportation card with TRC-USDT. This feature allows cryptocurrency to enter the daily transaction scene of ordinary people.

SUBE card is the core payment tool of Argentina's public transportation system, covering over 60 towns in and around the capital. Traditional recharge methods rely on subway station terminals or online banking, which can be time-consuming and laborious during peak hours. Now, through the TRON blockchain, users can recharge anytime, anywhere, with transactions almost instantly credited.

For Argentina, where the inflation rate remains high, the USDT's dollar peg is particularly valuable. It protects the purchasing power of transportation costs for ordinary people in the face of drastic fluctuations in local currency. The combination of this stability and convenience has attracted significant attention from international authoritative media such as the Financial Times and La Nación as soon as this feature went online.

UQUID CEO Tran Hung clearly stated: "Integrating blockchain into daily life is key to simplifying transactions. The high stability, low fees, and high speed of the TRON network perfectly meet the needs of Latin American users."

Technical Implementation Path

The core tool for implementing USDT payments is the Web3 wallet. Unlike traditional wallets, it allows users to fully control asset private keys and complete transactions directly on the blockchain.

Taking USDT as an example, in the Gate wallet: users click on 'Receive', select 'Withdraw from Gate platform', then select USDT and confirm the transfer to the Tron network, enter the quantity for confirmation, and the assets will be quickly credited. The entire process does not require involvement of a bank account, significantly reducing the threshold for cross-border payments.

The reason why the TRON network has become the preferred channel for USDT payments lies in its significant advantages: transaction fees as low as a few cents, the ability to process thousands of transactions per second, and a circulating supply of over 60 billion TRC20-USDT tokens. These features make small-value high-frequency payments economically feasible.

According to the data from the official website of Tether, as of June 2025, the circulation of TRC20 USDT has increased to 79.8 billion, making it the first single stablecoin with a market value close to 80 billion US dollars in the blockchain network. The huge circulation provides sufficient liquidity guarantee for payment scenarios.

##Emerging application scenarios

The application map of USDT payment is rapidly expanding globally. In the Latin American market, 48.78% of Latin American users on the UQUID platform choose Tron version USDT for shopping. This preference stems from the urgent need of economically unstable regions for stable and efficient financial solutions.

The payment scene presents a trend of diversified development:

• Public Transportation: Argentina SUBE Card Recharge Breaks Traditional Bank Restrictions
• Social Security: The Philippines has implemented USDT payments for the Social Security System (SSS) funds
• National Payments: Dominica has designated TRON as the national blockchain infrastructure, allowing the use of TRON tokens to pay taxes and other public services
• Cross-border trade: The number of on-chain transactions in the range of 1 to 10,000 US dollars has significantly increased year-on-year, indicating the increasing popularity of C2C and B2B payments.

The emerging USDT bank card (U card) will further extend payment scenarios to tens of millions of merchants worldwide. Some cryptocurrency payment products, through cooperation with Visa or MasterCard, allow users to convert USDT into local fiat currency for payment. From cross-border shopping to hotel reservations, from streaming subscriptions to daily consumption, real-world consumption scenarios are being reshaped by cryptocurrency payments.

Future Evolution Direction

Stablecoins themselves are undergoing intergenerational evolution. From the 1.0 era of USDT (centralized issuance, reserve disputes), to the 2.0 era of USDC (compliant registration, 100% reserve), and then to the collapse lesson of algorithmic stablecoin Terra USD, payment-grade stablecoins are maturing.

The entry of traditional payment giants such as PayPal marks the beginning of the 4.0 era. Its launch of the PYUSD stablecoin will embed compliance requirements into smart contracts, supporting functions such as freezing addresses, recalling, and actively embedding regulatory interfaces. This 'regulatory technology' approach may become mainstream in the future.

In the future, USDT payments will present two major trends:

• Regulatory Convergence: Major jurisdictions worldwide will form a unified standard for stablecoin issuance, reserves, and redemption
• Deepening of scenarios: extending from recharging transportation cards to high-frequency livelihood areas such as water and electricity payment, salary distribution, etc.

With the integration of USDT on the TON blockchain by Telegram, over 900 million global users will have instant, free P2P payment experience. This combination of social and payment could potentially become the next explosive point of Web3 payments.

In the future, when you board the subway in Buenos Aires, buy snacks on the streets of Bangkok, or purchase goods on cross-border platforms, the backend may be running a payment flow based on USDT, reflecting the practical value of cryptocurrency in daily life.

When financial transactions become as simple as sending messages, USDT payments will become the financial infrastructure of the digital age.

Author: Blog Team *This content does not constitute any offer, solicitation, or advice. You should always seek independent professional advice before making any investment decisions. *Please note that Gate may restrict or prohibit all or part of its services from restricted areas. Please read the user agreement for more information, link: