Tether's USDT processed $156 billion in payments valued at $1,000 or less in 2025, according to data shared today by CEO Paolo Ardoino, based on Chainalysis and Artemik's data.
The number highlights a side of cryptocurrency adoption that often remains overshadowed by price charts and ETF flows – everyday payment traffic.
USDT acts as a substitute for banks and cash.
Value transfers have now become a significant part of USDT's activity. Data shows steady growth since 2020, and the development has accelerated during 2024–2025: daily transfers of less than $1,000 exceed a volume of $500 million.
This underscores USDT's role more as a digital payment network than as a trading instrument.
The significance is further increased by who the users of stablecoins are and for what purpose they are used. Transfers under 1,000 dollars are typically tools for monetary remittances, wages, retail payments, transfer of savings, and peer-to-peer payments, especially in developing markets.
Unlike large exchange transactions, these events are generally not speculative but repetitive.
Practically, USDT is increasingly functioning as a substitute for cash and bank transfers in areas where access to dollars is limited or expensive.
Thus, the overall development of USDT in 2025 is also clearly visible. The circulating amount reached new peaks during the year, indicating that the demand for dollar liquidity has increased even outside of crypto trading.
At the same time, regulatory changes have shaped where and how USDT circulates.
In the United States, the GENIUS Act clarified the legal framework for payment stablecoins, strengthening institutions' trust in regulated dollar-pegged tokens.
In Europe, MiCA introduced stricter licensing regulations, which shifted some of the regulated activities away from USDT, but did not slow down the global internal use of the chain.
Tether has also expanded its infrastructure. Recent investments in Lightning-based payment networks demonstrate an effort to bring USDT into faster and cheaper transfer solutions.
Regional partnerships in Africa and the Middle East signal a growing focus on increasing payment and economic accessibility, not just exchange liquidity.
Overall, the sum of 156 billion dollars brings a new perspective to the discussion on cryptocurrency adoption. Market cycles dominate the headlines, but stablecoins are gradually becoming part of the economic infrastructure.
The growth of small USDT payments suggests that in 2025, cryptocurrency adoption is increasingly related to practical benefits, sustainability, and global dollar availability rather than speculation. This shift may prove to be more permanent than any price rally.