Tether Discontinues USDT Support on Five Blockchains by September 1

Tether, the world's largest stablecoin issuer, has announced a strategic decision to discontinue support for its stablecoin, USDT, on five blockchains: Omni, Bitcoin Cash SLP, Kusama, EOS, and Algorand. This move, effective by September 1, is part of a broader infrastructure review aimed at streamlining Tether's multi-chain footprint. The company cited dwindling activity on these networks as the primary reason for the shift, focusing instead on chains with stronger adoption and scalability.

The removal of these chains is not merely a procedural move but reflects a deeper realignment of priorities at Tether. The decision to sunset USDT support on these networks marks the end of an era for chains that once played a crucial role in the stablecoin's early rise. For instance, Omni, the original home of USDT, processed over $7 million worth of transactions and attracted more than 400,000 users during its peak. Similarly, EOS, despite its controversies, once boasted monthly user figures north of 30 million, driven by integrations with platforms like MetaMask. However, sustained usage on these networks has significantly declined, prompting Tether to formally pull the plug on redemptions and freeze tokens by September.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino explained the rationale behind this move, stating, "Sunsetting support for these legacy chains allows us to focus on platforms that offer greater scalability, developer activity, and community engagement — all key components for driving the next wave of stablecoin adoption." This strategic shift is expected to have wider ripple effects, as projects built on these chains now face hard choices: migrate liquidity, lobby for alternative stablecoins, or risk isolation. Tether has given users until September 1 to redeem or migrate their holdings, but the clock is ticking for these ecosystems to prove their relevance.

Meanwhile, Tether continues to invest in Layer 2 networks like Lightning and active ecosystems such as Ethereum and Tron, which already host the vast majority of USDT supply. The company now issues USDT across a dozen networks, including Solana, Polkadot, Avalanche, and TON, but has made it clear that the days of maintaining low-volume chains are over. This move underscores Tether's commitment to focusing on networks that can drive the next wave of stablecoin adoption, ensuring that USDT remains a dominant player in the stablecoin market.