USDT (Tether) is a stablecoin worth one US dollar that exists on several blockchains. The token is the same, but each network has its own addresses, fees and speed. Prop firm payments and payouts in crypto almost always use USDT or USDC, so knowing the networks matters.
The main networks
- TRC20 (TRON): very popular on exchanges, low fees, fast.
- BEP20 (BNB Smart Chain): low fees, fast, widely supported by Binance.
- ERC20 (Ethereum): the most established, but network fees can be several dollars or more.
- Solana (SPL): very fast and cheap, supported by most large exchanges and wallets like Phantom.
The golden rule
The network you choose when sending must match the network of the receiving address. A TRC20 address starts with 'T'; BEP20 and ERC20 addresses start with '0x'. Sending on the wrong network can mean the funds are lost or need a difficult recovery.
Which one to choose
- For paying a challenge from an exchange: TRC20 or BEP20 (lowest fees).
- For receiving payouts: the network your exchange or wallet supports for deposits; check the deposit page.
- For wallet-to-wallet with MetaMask: BEP20 or ERC20; with Phantom: Solana.