Yeliz Akmaca 
Tether froze 7,268 wallets holding $3.29 billion in USDT between 2023–2025, nearly 30 times more than Circle’s USDC freezes.
AMLBot data shows Tether has actively intervened on Ethereum and Tron, with $1.75 billion USDT denylisted on Tron alone. Tether works with over 275 law enforcement agencies across 59 jurisdictions, acting not only on court orders but also on hack alerts and ongoing investigations.
In July 2024, USDT freezes exceeded $130 million, with $29.6 million linked to Cambodia-based Huione Group on Tron.
Circle, on the other hand, takes a selective approach. On-chain data indicates USDC freezes occur only due to legal mandates or sanctions. Frozen funds remain locked until legal clearance is granted, and Circle does not support burn-and-reissue mechanisms like Tether.
Behavioral and Market Implications
Tether’s aggressive interventions help victims recover funds quickly and prevent fraud, which some investors see as a positive. However, extrajudicial freezes and international procedure disputes can harm user trust. Circle’s method prioritizes predictability and compliance, making it appealing to institutional investors.
Tether can freeze tokens without court orders when deemed risky. The amount of burned and reissued tokens reached $25–30 million in 2025 alone. This rapid action provides security for smaller investors, while institutional players prefer predictable frameworks.
Recent events, such as a $50 million USDT loss, highlight the importance of wallet-level protections and denylisted measures. As stablecoins integrate into daily finance, balancing user protection and centralized control remains a critical challenge.
Future Outlook and Institutional Strategy
Circle’s partnership with Bybit positions USDC as the default stablecoin for trading, payments, and savings products, emphasizing regulatory compliance and predictability. Tether’s focus on rapid intervention aims to minimize user losses. The stablecoin landscape will continue to reflect these contrasting strategies in market behavior and regulation.
2023–2025 Denylisted Data
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Tether USDT: 7,268 wallets, $3.29 billion
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Circle USDC: 372 wallets, $109 million
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USDT denylisted on Tron: $1.75 billion
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Tether burn-and-reissue: $25 million single month
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Circle USDC: funds locked until legal approval
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