USDT under pressure from regulators and competitors: where Tether is looking for growth in 2026

USDT has long been the working “digital dollar” for the crypto market, but the beginning of 2026 shows that user habits alone are no longer enough. Analysts write that for the second year in a row, USDC's growth rate is higher than that of USDT. The reason is not a sharp loss of confidence, but a change in selection criteria: large clients want not only a stable peg to $1, but also a clear legal framework, regular reports, and predictable reserve management. A clear architecture reduces the risk premium for CFOs.

For Tether, this is a competition in a new discipline: compliance and infrastructure. The company maintains a strong position in terms of scale and liquidity, but investors' attention is shifting to the details: where the assets are located, how quickly they can be converted into cash, what limits apply to more volatile investments, and who is responsible for control. At this level, the discussion is no longer about the “popularity of the token,” but about the quality of financial management and decision-making discipline.

At the same time, USDT is gaining ground in jurisdictions where rules are being formed faster than usual. In early January, Abu Dhabi Global Market added USDT to its register of approved fiat reference tokens. For businesses, this is a signal that USDT is gaining a clearer status in certain financial centers for settlements without exchange rate surprises.

Another vector is new scenarios beyond speculative activity. Tether's partnership with the Rumble media platform around a tip wallet for content creators shows pragmatic demand: micropayments, an international audience, minimal fees, and the ability to receive funds directly. This makes stablecoins part of monetization.

Competition with more regulated counterparts will intensify, and the speed of adaptation will be decisive here. The more actively companies use stablecoins in settlements, the higher the demand for disclosure standards and procedures in case of stress withdrawals. Any pause in communication quickly turns into a risk premium.