TRON’s USDT Dominance: 8.9M Daily Transfers and Surging Retail Adoption Fuel Network Growth

TRON has emerged as a powerhouse in the stablecoin market, with its network processing over $78 billion in circulating USDT across 343 million accounts. The platform's daily transaction volume has skyrocketed to 8.9 million, generating approximately $1.4 million in fees, highlighting its efficiency as a high-throughput settlement layer. A recent 60% reduction in energy costs, approved by the governance community in August 2025, has further accelerated adoption, making TRON an increasingly attractive option for retail users and institutional players alike. This growth underscores TRON's pivotal role in the stablecoin ecosystem and its potential to reshape the future of digital asset transactions.

TRON Accelerates Adoption With 8.9M Daily Transfers and Explosive Retail Usage

TRON has solidified its dominance in the stablecoin market, processing over $78 billion in circulating USDT across 343 million accounts. The network's daily transaction volume reached 8.9 million, generating approximately $1.4 million in fees, underscoring its role as a high-throughput settlement layer.

A 60% reduction in energy costs, approved by the governance community in August, further catalyzed adoption. This MOVE pushed daily active users beyond 2.5 million, as transaction costs became significantly more competitive compared to rivals like BNB Chain and Solana.

Grassroots adoption has been particularly notable, with real-world retail payments and small-balance users driving network activity. TRON's infrastructure now serves as the primary settlement LAYER for global USDT transactions.

China’s Financial Control Eroded by Rising Crypto-Based Money Laundering

Chinese criminal networks are increasingly leveraging cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Tether (USDT) to bypass stringent capital controls, undermining the country's efforts to prevent illicit financial flows. According to research by Kathryn Westmore of the Royal United Services Institute, digital assets have become integral to China's underground economy, facilitating cross-border money laundering and global criminal activities.

The fentanyl trade and other illicit operations now rely heavily on crypto transactions. In 2024 alone, pig-butchering scams siphoned over $4 billion from victims, while cryptocurrency frauds exceeded $2.3 billion in losses by 2025. Westmore's findings highlight the growing sophistication of Chinese Money Laundering Organizations (CMLOs), which exploit Bitcoin and stablecoins to evade detection.

International cooperation is urgently needed to combat crypto-enabled financial crimes. Without coordinated regulatory action, the anonymity and borderless nature of blockchain transactions will continue to empower criminal networks.

DOJ Seizes $15M in Stolen USDT Linked to North Korean Hackers

The U.S. Department of Justice has confiscated over $15 million in Tether (USDT) traced to APT38, a North Korean military hacking group. The funds were stolen in 2023 during a series of cyberattacks targeting cryptocurrency platforms. Five hackers admitted to facilitating the infiltration of U.S. companies by North Korean IT workers.

North Korea has emerged as a major player in crypto-related crimes, stealing more than $3 billion over three years, according to Tronweekly. The DOJ's civil forfeiture actions aim to permanently reclaim the stolen assets. The FBI's investigation revealed APT38's involvement in large-scale exploits across international crypto exchanges.