While stablecoins have established themselves as digital havens against inflation, not all networks on which USDT circulates offer the same guarantees of security and stability.
Latin America is increasingly using cryptocurrencies to save money and move between countries, but choosing the right network can make the difference between protecting value and exposing yourself to unnecessary risk.
Some networks, such as Ethereum, prioritize decentralization and security, while others, such as Tron, BNB Chain, and Solana, stand out for their low cost and speed, but at the expense of other important criteria. Add to this technical factors such as downtime, available liquidity, and compatibility with secure wallets.
Therefore, the following questions are inevitable:What network do I need to store USDT safely and efficiently? Let’s find out.
What are the criteria for evaluating cryptocurrency networks?
To fully evaluate a cryptocurrency network, you need to understand that not all networks offer the same level of security, decentralization, or accessibility. Each network has a different technical design that directly impacts reliability, speed, and ability to withstand attacks and censorship. These are the most appropriate criteria for comparing and evaluating them.
The first criterion is the level of decentralization and the type of agreement. Because security and censorship resistance depend on this. Consensus – Whether it’s Proof of Stake (PoS), Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS), Proof of Stake Authority (PoSA), etc., it defines who validates transactions and how decisions are made.
An important factor is the number and geographical distribution of validators. Networks with nodes spread across multiple countries are not vulnerable to centralized management. This analysis highlights the Nakamoto coefficient, which measures the number of entities needed to compromise or censor a network. The older it is, the safer it is. According to estimates from sources such as Chainspect, Helius, and S&P Global, Ethereum’s coefficient is between 20 and 25, Solana’s coefficient is between 13 and 21 (often quoted around 19), Tron’s coefficient is around 5, and BNB Chain’s coefficient is less than 7.
Security and resistance to censorship are equally important. You should investigate whether your network was hacked, disrupted, or compromised, and how your network responded to these incidents. A strong network should be stable, recover quickly, and remain transparent.
On the other hand, transaction cost, speed, and scalability are the deciding factors. You can compare performance using metrics such as transactions per second (TPS) and time per block. Finally, compatibility and accessibility with hardware wallets is extremely important, especially in inflationary situations where cryptocurrencies and stablecoins act as stores of value.
¿ Ethereum, BNB Chain, Solana, Tron?
We started with Ethereum. Ethereum has established itself as one of the most relevant infrastructures for stablecoins like USDT (Tether). IThe network functions as a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism.This reduces energy consumption and enables the participation of thousands of validators. Still, some of the interests are concentrated in large pools, creating a certain risk of coordination and censorship.
In terms of security, Ethereum has maintained stable operations without any global interruptions since 2015. The main vulnerabilities to date have come from higher layers, such as poorly audited smart contracts, flaws in DeFi protocols, and interchain bridge hacks.
In this sense, it is safe to keep USDT on mainnet as long as you avoid interacting with contracts or bridges that are unpopular or too new. Nevertheless, It is important to note that all bridges carry some degree of risk and can be vulnerable to exploitation. Although this architecture prevents block reversals, some validators have responded to regulatory pressure by censoring certain transactions, showing that resistance to censorship is not absolute.
According to Etherscan data, the average gas fee is around 0.624 Gwei, equivalent to around 0.04 USD for a simple transaction, while the cost of transferring USDT (ERC-20) is between 0.30 and 0.60 USD. This cost is reasonable for storing funds or performing occasional tasks, but can be high if you transfer money frequently. Therefore, if commission costs are a priority, we recommend using a second-tier (L2) solution such as Arbitrum, Optimism, or Base. However, the safest option is still to keep USDT on mainnet.
Ethereum offers the best compatibility on the market. All cold (Ledger, Trezor) and hot (MetaMask, Trust Wallet) wallets support USDT, and the most used exchanges in the region allow direct deposits and withdrawals through this network.
BNB chain
BNB chain, Developed by Binance, this network has become one of the most used networks in the ecosystem due to its high speed, low cost, and compatibility with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Thanks to these properties, it is widely used in dApps, DeFi platforms, and decentralized exchanges, especially by users looking for efficiency and low fees.
However, when analyzed according to key technical criteria such as security, decentralization, scalability, sustainability, and economic efficiency, both benefits and structural limitations become apparent.
For security, we use Proof of Staked Authority (PoSA) consensus, which combines participation and delegation of authority. This model allows blocks to be verified in seconds, reducing the risk of attacks by 51%.However, control is centralized to only 21 active validators, which limits decentralization.
For scalability, the network processes 2,000 to 3,000 transactions per second with 3 seconds of confirmation for each block. This makes it one of the fastest on the market. Its economic efficiency is also outstanding. The average cost per transaction is 0.00021 BNB (approximately 0.04 USD) and the price of gasoline is close to 0.6 Gwei, making it favorable for implementation in countries with high inflation rates.
Despite its performance, BNB Chain maintains a semi-centralized structure as Binance influences the selection and management of validators. Instead, the PoSA model is more sustainable and energy efficient than Proof of Work.
Unlike networks such as Ethereum and Tron, the BNB chain does not support native USDT, but a wrapped BEP-20 version issued via a bridge that locks the original USDT on the source chain. This system maintains a value comparable to that of traditional USDT, but introduces additional risks.
Security depends on external administrator or contract. If hacked or compromised, users may lose access to their assets.
tron
Tron is a layer 1 network focused on fast value transfer.especially those designed for high transaction volumes, such as stablecoins such as USDT. Its Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) consensus allows TRX holders to vote on 27 “super-delegates” who validate blocks, enabling confirmations in seconds and high throughput. However, this efficiency comes at the cost of reduced decentralization, as a small number of actors concentrate most of the verification authority.
In terms of security, Tron maintains stable operation without interruption for a long time. The protocol has economic incentives and rapid update mechanisms to strengthen resilience. Still, the ecosystem faces certain vulnerabilities, such as incidents in multisig contracts, demonstrating that technical robustness requires continued coordination between developers and validators.
On a technical level, Tron stands out for its speed (blocks every few seconds) and efficiency. “Bandwidth” and “Energy” resource models allow you to reduce charges by freezing TRX.
Following the governance proposals that came into force in August 2025, The cost per unit of energy has dropped from 210 Sans to 100 Suns, significantly reducing transaction costs on USDT-TRC20. Currently, the average transfer cost is 13-27 TRX (approximately 3-6 USD), but it can drop to less than 1 USD if users accumulate energy, making it one of the most expensive networks.
“In terms of accessibility, the TRON network supports multiple mobile wallets, extensions, and exchanges, making it popular for moving USDT due to its speed and low cost. However, support for hardware wallets is limited. Trezor does not yet support TRON Network (TRC-20)However, that integration may come later and is delayed compared to other networks.
Solana
Solana employs a hybrid consensus mechanism that combines Proof of Stake (PoS) and a temporary record system called Proof of History (PoH). This model allows validators to order transactions chronologically without constantly communicating with each other, reducing latency and increasing efficiency.
There are currently approximately 2,000 active validators distributed around the world. However, the need for powerful hardware can limit the participation of smaller validators and create a certain concentration.
On the security front, the network has not been seriously compromised, although there have been operational interruptions due to errors and congestion. Verifiers had to coordinate manual restarts, which shows not only the degree of technical centralization but also the ability to react quickly. Fees are very low: Each transaction has a base fee of 0.000005 SOL (0.0005 USD), which is subject to slight fluctuations based on demand. Its architecture allows it to process over 50,000 transactions per second with blocks every 400 to 600 milliseconds, making it one of the fastest networks.
Solana is compatible with wallets such as Phantom, Solflare, Trust Wallet, Exodus, and Ledger. It offers fast and cheap withdrawals, but is not compatible with EVM, which limits interoperability with Ethereum services and wallets. Moreover, its dependence on SOL, its technical structure and centralization of USDT poses certain risks.
Finally, what is the best network to store USDT?
The best network to store USDT securely and long-term is Ethereum (ERC-20). The high degree of decentralization, maturity of the DeFi ecosystem, and universal wallet support make it the most reliable option. A good choice for those who prioritize security and institutional support. Although fees can be high, their stability and transparency keep them as the surest option for preserving value.
At the halfway point is TRON (TRC-20). You can move funds with minimal fees, making it ideal for sending money, daily payments, and frequent transfers. However, reliance on less decentralized and more centralized governance models implies certain risks, especially in scenarios where censorship or address control may be a factor.
on the other hand, The least preferred option for long-term storage of USDT is the BNB chain (BEP-20). While they offer great speed and low costs, the fact that tokens are represented in a “wrapped” version and sometimes rely on external bridges makes them more susceptible to escrow vulnerabilities and hacks. These limitations make it more suitable for short-term use or transactions within your own ecosystem.
In either case, diversification across networks, beyond your chosen network, is key to mitigating risk. By distributing your funds across different networks, you can avoid losses due to technical failures or regulatory sanctions. Additionally, enforcing private custody with hardware wallets, key backups, and contract validation are essential practices to ensure sovereign control and truly secure management of USDT.
(Tag translation)BNB
