USDT Leads Record-Breaking $15.6T Stablecoin Transfer Volume as Market Cap Surpasses $300B
The stablecoin market has achieved unprecedented milestones in Q3 2025, with transfer volume reaching a staggering $15.6 trillion and circulating supply breaking through the $300 billion barrier. This represents an impressive 18% quarterly expansion, highlighting the accelerating adoption of stablecoins in global financial systems. Ethereum-based stablecoins continue to dominate the landscape, capturing 69% of market share in new issuance. The remarkable growth underscores stablecoins' increasingly vital role in DeFi ecosystems and cross-border payment solutions, with USDT maintaining its position as the market leader driving this exponential expansion. This record-breaking performance signals a fundamental shift in how digital assets are being utilized for both institutional and retail financial operations worldwide.
Stablecoin Market Hits Record $15.6T in Q3 Transfers as Supply Tops $300B
The stablecoin sector reached unprecedented scale in Q3 2025, with transfer volume surging to $15.6 trillion and circulating supply breaking the $300 billion barrier. This 18% quarterly expansion underscores stablecoins' accelerating role in global finance, particularly within DeFi ecosystems and cross-border payments.
Ethereum-based stablecoins dominated new issuance, capturing 69% market share as Tron's supply contracted unexpectedly. Tether (USDT) processed over $100 billion in monthly DEX volume alone, while USD Coin (USDC) and Ethena's USDe accounted for 84% of new stablecoin minting activity.
Regulatory clarity and institutional adoption fueled the growth, with yield-bearing stablecoins gaining traction despite U.S. restrictions. The figures confirm stablecoins' evolution from crypto trading instruments to critical infrastructure for the broader digital economy.
How To Freeze Stablecoin? This Tether Lawsuit May Be Case In Point
A lawsuit filed against Tether in the Southern District of New York has brought scrutiny to the mechanisms stablecoin issuers use to comply with law enforcement and manage user funds. Riverstone, the plaintiff, alleges Tether froze eight of its wallets holding $45 million on April 4 following an informal request from Bulgarian authorities. The company claims Tether provided no legal justification for the action and redirected inquiries to unresponsive Bulgarian officials.
The complaint challenges Tether's marketing of USDT as a decentralized and liquid stablecoin, arguing its centralized control—enabled through smart contracts—contradicts these claims. Riverstone asserts Tether's unilateral freezing power undermines its promises of banking-free efficiency and stability. The case also questions whether Tether adhered to international legal standards by acting on a local police request without judicial or diplomatic oversight.
Three legal claims FORM the core of the lawsuit, including breach of fiduciary duty. The outcome could set precedents for how stablecoins balance regulatory compliance with user autonomy—a tension increasingly central to cryptocurrency's evolution.
Tether Launches Open-Source Wallet Kit to Expand USDT Ecosystem
Tether is set to release its fully open-source Wallet Development Kit (WDK), a MOVE poised to reshape the stablecoin landscape. The kit includes starter wallets for iOS and Android, offering non-custodial control and DeFi integration—features that underscore Tether's push toward decentralized infrastructure.
CEO Paolo Ardoino emphasized the WDK's simplicity, calling it a turnkey solution for developers. The starter wallet demo revealed robust functionality: multi-mnemonic backups, native support for USDT and its upcoming USDT0 variant, and seamless access to lending and swapping protocols. This positions Tether not just as a stablecoin issuer, but as an enabler of broader crypto adoption.
BNB Price Nears $1,200 as CZ Reacts to Coinbase Listing
BNB price surged to $1,191 following Changpeng Zhao's endorsement of Coinbase's decision to list the token. The former Binance CEO called the move a "no-brainer," citing BNB's liquidity and market position as the third-largest cryptocurrency by capitalization.
The token briefly touched $1,191 before stabilizing NEAR $1,181, with technical indicators showing neutral momentum. Traders appear to be awaiting further catalysts from the upcoming Coinbase listing, which sparked a 0.5% price bump within an hour of Zhao's comments.
Industry figures including Tron founder Justin Sun and Kraken exchange publicly supported the listing. BNB's $164.9 billion market cap now trails only Bitcoin and ethereum among non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies.
