USDT Price History:
Key Things to Know About Tether Price

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Time to read: 8 min

USDT holds a unique place in the history of cryptocurrencies as a true pioneer among stablecoins. Since its inception in 2014, Tether has drawn interest for its innovative concept of a coin pegged 1:1 to the US dollar.

But is Tether truly that stable in price? Today, we will explore Tether’s history, examine the few instances when its price has fluctuated, and find out how it keeps its value tied to the US dollar.

What Is Tether (USDT)?

Tether, launched in 2014 by Tether Limited, is a stablecoin with its value pegged to a reserve currency, specifically the US dollar.

The USDT to USD ratio is 1:1, ensuring that the price of one token is always equal to one US dollar. This peg reduces the volatility of the coin’s price, making it a reliable option for saving funds, trading on exchanges, and transferring funds.

The key feature of USDT is that each token issued must be backed by real dollar reserves in the issuer company’s accounts. This aspect guarantees that the total number of coins in circulation matches the dollar assets held by the company, providing investors with confidence in the stability of the stablecoin’s value.

History of Tether

Tether was launched in 2014 on the Bitcoin blockchain using the Omni Layer protocol developed by programmer J.R. Willet back in 2012.

Originally known as Realcoin, it was introduced by entrepreneur Reeve Collins, along with Omni Foundation executives Brock Pierce and Craig Sellars. They aimed to create a cryptocurrency with a stable exchange rate, transparency, reliability, and security.

The central idea behind Realcoin was to peg each token to the US dollar to minimize exchange rate fluctuations. By the end of 2014, Collins, Pierce, and Sellars decided to rebrand the project as Tether to enhance its appeal and attract more investors. By 2015, USDT was listed on several cryptocurrency exchanges.

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Key Takeaways About Tether

  • USDT (Tether USD) is one of the world’s most popular cryptocurrencies and is classified as a stablecoin, meaning its value is pegged to the US dollar.
  • Backing: Each token is backed by an equivalent amount of USD held by the issuer company.
  • Utility: USDT is commonly used to swiftly transfer funds between exchanges and wallets, manage risks during trading, and maintain value in volatile market conditions.
  • Compatibility: The crypto is supported on various blockchain protocols including Ethereum, TRON, BNB Chain, Avalanche, and more.
  • Wallets: Popular wallets for storing the token include MyEtherWallet, Trust Wallet, Safepal, Ledger, and Trezor. It’s crucial to choose a wallet that supports the specific blockchain you use.
  • Issuance: USDT cannot be mined or staked. Coins are issued or withdrawn based on the US dollars held in the bank accounts of the issuing company.
  • Audits: Tether regularly conducts audits to ensure there are enough US dollars to support all issued coins.
  • Controversy: Despite its popularity, the cryptocurrency has faced criticism concerning transparency and the sufficiency of its backing.

Tether (USDT) Overview

USDT Price $1.00
Price Change 24h+0.01%
Price Change 7d-0.01%
Market Cap$116,253,974,136
Circulating Supply116,183,859,407 
Total Supply118,060,317,102 
Trading Volume$51,872,162,857
All-Time High (ATH)$1.22
All-Time Low (ATL)$0.5683

Tether USD-USDT: How Does It Work?

According to Tether’s team, they aim to keep the value of their stablecoin equal to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio. Here’s how that works: Let’s say a company issues 100 tokens and declares each coin worth one US dollar. To maintain this value, the company needs to have $100 in various assets in its accounts. If the value of the cryptocurrency drops significantly, the company can step in and buy back the coins with dollars to bring the exchange rate back to its usual level.

The Tether fund holds dollar assets equal to the value of all tokens issued. One USDT is not exactly one US dollar, but it is supported by the company’s dollar reserves. According to the fund, as of July 2024, over 113 billion tokens were in circulation, backed by assets totaling $118 billion.

The level of backing can vary. For instance, if the value of cryptocurrency traded rises sharply, the fund might need to increase its dollar reserves. This process can take some time, and during that period, the backing of stablecoins by fiat currencies might drop from 100% to something like 60%.

Tether (USDT) Chart

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Key Tether Market Metrics

Tracking market metrics is crucial for gaining a clear understanding of the asset you’re considering for investment. By examining key indicators, you can make smarter decisions and manage your investment risks more effectively.

Current Price (USDT)

The USDT exchange rate has remained steady. If you check the chart from the start of the year, you’ll notice it has consistently traded close to 1 dollar per token, with no significant rate swings.

Tether Market Cap

USDT has the largest market cap among all stablecoins and is ranked in the top 3 cryptocurrencies by this measure. As of now, the market cap of this stable crypto is $116.2 billion.

Trading Volume

The daily trading volume of the most popular stablecoin is tens of billions of dollars — $51,872,162,857. The high trading volume shows its high liquidity and strong demand, meaning you can easily close trades, sell the tokens on a crypto exchange, and get cash whenever you need it.

USDT Rate Fluctuations

According to Tether Limited, the stablecoin is meant to maintain parity with the US dollar, meaning one token should equal one dollar.

However, shortly after trading began in 2015, Tether hit its lowest rate of $0.57. At the time, low demand and liquidity led to significant price fluctuations. For instance, in 2015, the token briefly traded as high as $1.32. A stable trend was seen until April 2017, but soon after, the stablecoin’s prices dropped again to $0.91 before rising to $1.10.

In October 2018, the peg fell to $0.95 during a market crash where Bitcoin lost more than 50% of its value in a month. In May 2019, the rate dropped to $0.94 due to a shortage of reserve funds. After a group of major traders injected $1 billion into the company, confidence in the token was restored, and the stablecoin was re-pegged. Despite these efforts, the rate continues to fluctuate, and true parity has not yet been consistently achieved.

Conclusion

Today, we explored various aspects of one of the most popular digital currencies, focusing on its role as a stablecoin tied to the US dollar. Despite past fluctuations in its value, USDT remains one of the most reliable and widely used stablecoins with the highest daily trading volume. The company works hard to maintain transparency and security of its assets, which is crucial for the trust of investors and users.

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FAQ

  • What Is Tether?

    USDT is a stablecoin designed to maintain a stable value equivalent to the US dollar, one of the major fiat currencies.

  • Who Created Tether?

    The most popular stablecoin was created by Reeve Collins, Brock Pierce, and Craig Sellars, aiming to introduce a stable cryptocurrency to the market.

  • Should I Buy USDT Coins?

    Buying stablecoins can be strategic for managing volatility when exchanging other digital assets, as it aims to hold a stable value.

  • How to Buy USDT with Fiat Currency?

    The best way to buy USDT is through Switchere.com, which offers secure purchases with fiat using credit cards, bank transfers, and mobile payments.

  • When Will Tether Rate Go Up?

    The rate of any stable cryptocurrency is designed to stay pegged at $1, meaning significant deviations are typically corrected quickly.

  • How Do Stablecoins Differ from Other Cryptocurrencies?

    Stablecoins aim to maintain a fixed value relative to traditional currencies, unlike other digital assets that often experience significant rate fluctuations.

  • Can Stablecoins Crash in Rate?

    While stablecoins are designed to be stable, sharp declines in backing assets or market crises can lead to temporary rate crashes.

  • Is It Safe to Invest in Stablecoins?

    Investing in stablecoins can be considered safer compared to volatile cryptos, as they aim to maintain a steady value linked to fiat assets.

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