Update: Tether Unleashes 4 Billion USDT in Four Weeks: Data

Tether has dominated headlines with a staggering issuance of more than 4 billion USDT tokens in the past month, accounting for a significant portion of this year's total. This rapid surge, detailed by blockchain data provider Whale Alert, raises questions about Tether's strategy and its impact on the cryptocurrency landscape.

Based on Whale Alert's data, Tether has been releasing tokens at a rapid pace, with the latest move involving the distribution of 1 billion USDT on the Tron blockchain on November 10. This follows closely on the heels of an additional 1 billion USDT on Ethereum on November 9, along with 2 billion USDT in two tranches on the Tron blockchain on November 3 and October 19.

However, Paolo Ardoino, Tether's CEO and CTO, shed light on the recent Tron transaction, describing it as a "USDT inventory replenishment." He clarified that this transaction is authorized but not issued, earmarked for future issuance requests and chain swaps.

The data indicates that Tether should have issued 22.75 billion USDT in 2023. Of this, a substantial 57% (13 billion USDT) was minted on the Tron blockchain, with the Ethereum blockchain contributing the remaining 9.75 billion USDT. This signifies a strategic distribution across multiple blockchains.

Over the past year, Tether has consistently ramped up its USDT minting efforts. Notable spikes include a staggering issuance of 9 billion USDT coins in March 2023 and another 3.75 billion between June 12 and July 12.