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What is tether?

An introduction to cryptocurrency
دسامبر 24, 2022
Fungible and non-fungible tokens
دسامبر 25, 2022

Tether is a blockchain-based platform that was introduced in 2014 with the goal of facilitating the usage of fiat money online. Tether employs a more cutting-edge method of handling money in an effort to upend the established financial structure. Tether has advanced by enabling users to conduct transactions on the blockchain using conventional currencies without the inherent volatility and complexity often associated with a digital currency. Tether has democratized international trade on the blockchain as the first blockchain-enabled platform to permit the digital usage of conventional currencies (a well-known, reliable accounting unit).

History

Reeve Collins, Craig Sellars, and Brock Pierce, a former child actor in a couple Disney films, launched Tether back in 2014. Realcoin, their stablecoin token, did not have a lot of initial traction. Tether’s popularity surged as it was integrated into the Bitfinex ecosystem after being bought by new owners located in Hong Kong who also owned the centralised cryptocurrency exchange in 2015.

As Tether expanded, its Taiwanese legacy banking partners grew concerned about the token’s lack of KYC and other checks once it entered into circulation on various blockchains. They eventually ended their banking relationship with Tether in 2017, which put the stability of the stablecoin’s ability to convert fiat currency into cryptocurrencies and vice versa, in jeopardy. However, they were able to establish banking relationships in the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, and during the subsequent crypto bull run, Tether’s stablecoins rose to prominence, with its flagship, the USD, ranking among the top tokens by traded volume and market value.

Tether was first developed for the Bitcoin network, but it is currently supported by a number of top blockchains. JL van der Velde is listed as Tether’s Chief Executive Officer and the company is registered in the British Virgin Islands. IFinex is the owner of both the business and Bitfinix.

 

How does it work?

Algorand, Avalanche, Bitcoin Cash’s Simple Ledger Protocol (SLP), Ethereum, EOS, Liquid Network, Omni, Polygon, Tezos, Tron, Solana, and Statemine are just a few of the top blockchains on which Tether coins are based. These transport protocols are made up of free and open-source programs that connect to blockchains to enable the creation and redemption of Tether tokens.

 

Tether was initially intended to be a stable cryptocurrency that could function as a replacement for dollars in the marketplace. it was created on the Bitcoin blockchain through the Omni layered protocol. This initial version of Tether benefits from the inherent stability and security of the longest-established blockchain network since it leverages the Bitcoin blockchain.

As an ERC20 token on the Ethereum blockchain, Tether is a more recent transport layer that currently makes Tether coins usable in decentralised apps or smart contracts on Ethereum. It may also be transmitted to any Ethereum address because it is a regular ERC20 token. Tether has democratized international trade on the blockchain as the first blockchain-enabled platform to permit the digital usage of conventional currencies (a well-known, reliable accounting unit).

What are tether tokens?

Tether tokens are assets that can be transferred across the blockchain with the same ease as other cryptocurrencies but are 1:1 pegged to fiat money.

Because they are anchored to a fiat currency, tether tokens are known as stablecoins because they provide price stability. When leaving positions in the market, this gives access to traders, merchants, and funds with a low volatility option. Every Tether token is backed entirely by the reserves of Tether and is tied to a fiat currency at a 1:1 ratio (e.g., 1 USD = 1 USD).

what are the benefits of tether?

  • Market domination and liquidity: One of the oldest stablecoins with the greatest exchange listings and liquidity is USDT. With approximately 55% market share, its network effects have given it a commanding advantage in the stablecoin industry (although decreasing over 2021).
  • Price stability and history: USDT has a far longer history of (nearly) flawlessly maintaining its dollar peg, which has helped it gain the faith of many traders.
  • Exchange listings: Almost all exchanges, including many of the biggest and most reputable ones, offer Tether.