USDT vs USDC
USDT and USDC are easy to mix up. Here are both definitions from the HighRisk Media glossary side by side.
Comparison table
| Term | USDT | USDC |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tether | USD Coin |
| In short | USDT (Tether) is a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar and issued by Tether. It is used for settlements and transfers in the crypto industry. | USDC (USD Coin) is a stablecoin issued at a 1:1 ratio to the US dollar and backed by cash reserves and short-term US Treasury bonds. |
| Verticals | Crypto, Fintech, Gambling | Crypto, Fintech |
What is USDT?
USDT is one of the most widely used stablecoins. Its target value is one US dollar, and the issuer, Tether, states that each token is backed by reserves. The quality and composition of these reserves are regularly debated in the industry, so it is worth monitoring them independently.
What is USDC?
USDC is a stablecoin token created by the Centre consortium (its main members are Circle and Coinbase). Circle handles issuance and management. Each USDC token must be backed by an equivalent amount of US dollars, so its price is usually close to 1 USD. The token runs on several blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana and other networks, so transfers are possible across different networks.