Tether Just Declared War on Legacy Networks: USDT on Older Blockchains Now ’Unsupported’

Tether pulls the plug on legacy blockchain support—rendering older USDT versions officially 'unsupported' in a move that shakes up crypto's liquidity layers.

Network Darwinism at Play

No more safety nets for dormant chains. If you're holding USDT on deprecated networks, consider this your final warning. The message is clear: upgrade or risk getting stranded.

Liquidity Shifts in Real-Time

Expect sudden migrations as holders scramble to bridge assets to modern ecosystems. The domino effect could squeeze liquidity on older chains—another reminder that in crypto, even stablecoins aren't immune to forced evolution.

Another day, another reclassification—because nothing says 'decentralized' like a centralized issuer deciding which blockchains still matter. Classic crypto 'stability' at work.

Transfers Will Still Work

If you’re holding USDT on any of these chains, you can still send and receive them. What’s ending is the ability to mint new tokens or redeem them directly with Tether. The reclassification keeps those older tokens functional while allowing Tether to focus on chains that are more widely used today.

Community Feedback Played a Role

The update wasn’t made in a vacuum. Tether noted that it listened to feedback from developers and users active on these older networks. Rather than cutting access entirely, this change lets people continue using the tokens if they want, without expecting Tether to keep full support going forward.

Tether Refocusing on High-Utility Chains

This decision is part of a bigger push toward active networks that serve large user bases and support growing ecosystems. ethereum and Tron are top priorities, alongside newer Layer 2 networks that are gaining serious traction. This lets Tether concentrate its efforts where USDT is seeing the most demand.

USDT Coming to Bitcoin via RGB

At the same time, Tether is expanding its reach. The company plans to launch a native version of USDT on Bitcoin using RGB, a smart contract protocol built around Bitcoin’s infrastructure. This means users will be able to interact with USDT directly on Bitcoin, without needing bridges or third-party chains.

Keeping Things Simple Internally

Tether has maintained a long list of supported chains over the years. Some of them have had very low usage, which added unnecessary overhead. By trimming down and focusing on chains that see more activity, Tether simplifies how it manages USDT behind the scenes.

Holders Can Still Migrate

For users who want to MOVE their USDT to a fully supported chain, tools already exist to do so. Many wallets and exchanges allow for cross-chain swaps or redemptions. There’s no rush to migrate, but the option is open for those who want to take advantage of more features on active networks.

DeFi and Integration Goals

The update also reflects where the stablecoin world is heading. Most of today’s DeFi activity lives on just a few blockchains, and Tether is aligning its footprint accordingly. Concentrating liquidity in those places helps DeFi tools, dApps, and protocols integrate USDT more easily.

What Happens Now

From here on, the networks listed as unsupported won’t get updates, redemptions, or new token issuance from Tether. Wallet transfers still work as usual. For users looking ahead, the bitcoin RGB launch could be the next major evolution for USDT, connecting the stablecoin to the largest and oldest blockchain in a direct way.

Key Takeaways

• Tether has reclassified USDT on older chains like Omni, EOS, and Algorand as “unsupported” rather than freezing them.
• Users can still transfer USDT on these chains, but minting and redemptions with Tether are no longer available.
• The move is based on low usage and community feedback, allowing Tether to refocus on high-demand chains like Ethereum, Tron, and Bitcoin via RGB.
• Tether plans to launch native USDT on Bitcoin using RGB, offering direct stablecoin support without bridges.
• Users can still migrate their USDT to active networks using cross-chain tools supported by wallets and exchanges.