Key Takeaways
Tether has announced a major structural shift effective September 1, 2025: it will stop supporting USDT, including minting, redemptions, and transfers, on five legacy blockchains: Omni, Bitcoin Cash SLP, Algorand, Kusama, and EOS. Any USDT left on these networks after the deadline will be frozen indefinitely, so this is a true “use-it-or-lose-it” scenario.
This means users holding USDT on these blockchains must act now to avoid losing access to their funds.
Tether reviewed on-chain data and found that USDT volume on these blockchains has plummeted. For example:
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino says the move helps reallocate resources to networks with better scalability, developer engagement, and community adoption, such as Ethereum, Tron, Solana, and emerging Layer-2s like Lightning Network.
The withdrawal didn’t happen overnight, Tether started halting new mints of USDT on Omni, SLP, Kusama back in 2023, and on EOS and Algorand in mid‑2024. Now they’re completing the phase-out by freezing remaining tokens.
After this date:
Use blockchain explorers like:
If your USDT is on one of the five listed blockchains, proceed to the next steps.
Two main options for your include:
However, please note that not all wallets and exchanges may offer this service. Choose platforms with active USDT migration tools.
Move your USDT to:
This ensures your tokens remain usable and supported in the future.
This move highlights a key lesson: blockchains without sustained adoption and usage may be deprecated. Developers, investors, and holders must:
Tether isn’t alone in phasing out support for underperforming chains. Here are examples of other crypto platforms phased out tokens or chain support in the past:
These examples highlight a consistent pattern: platforms scale back infrastructure on inactive or risky chains to prioritize efficiency, security, and community engagement.
Tether’s upcoming freeze of USDT on Omni, SLP, Algorand, Kusama, and EOS marks the final stage in a phased withdrawal that began two years ago. With minimal USDT remaining on these networks and a strategic pivot towards high-performance, active blockchains, Tether is optimizing for scalability and engagement.
If you hold USDT on any of these chains, redeem or migrate before September 1, 2025, to avoid your funds being locked forever.
Staying alert to these infrastructure shifts is essential: as blockchain ecosystems evolve, only those with strong usage, liquidity, and developer activity will continue to support major assets like USDT.
After September 1, 2025, any USDT left in those chains (Omni, SLP, Algorand, Kusama, EOS) will be permanently frozen and unusable. No, once tokens are frozen at the protocol level, no wallet or transfer service (even decentralized ones) can move or redeem them. Unlikely. Tether has clearly stated this move aligns with its strategy and usage data. They remain open to supporting new chains, but revival of these deprecated chains is unexpected. Prior to the deadline, you can redeem via Tether directly for fiat or new issuance. Use a trusted exchange or bridge to swap into ETH, TRON, Solana, or other supported chains. After the cutoff, these options will be unavailable.