Is USD Stablecoin Rise Fueled by Chinese Demand for Bitcoin and Crypto?

By Nivesh Rustgi
crypto tether china
  • Tether prints another 120 million USDT to its inventory as the total amount of USDT issued now equals $6,803,667,043.90.
  • Reportedly, the global demand for the US Dollar is manifesting itself via Tether, as Chinese crypto exchanges dominate deposits.

USDT (Tether) total market capitalization is now up more than 40% since March. The trend has been consistent with other stablecoins (such as GUSD, TUSD, PAX, DAI, USDC, HUSD BUSD) as well.

usdt stablecoin supply
USD Stablecoin Supply (Source)

The recently issued $60 million to the inventory on 2nd April 2020 has been replenished in less than 10 days, as the firm moves to print $120 million more.

Huobi and Okex Leading according to Research Report for 14 Exchanges

According to a report by JGZ.com, a total of $1.68 billion worth of USDT was officially distributed in March. Of this, the total net deposits at the top 14 exchange platforms amounted to a total of $672 million USDT. Huobi led the total deposits in March accounting for nearly 50% ($323 million) of the total $672 million.

The 14 crypto exchanges which they reported on included Binance, Okex, Huobi, Bitfinex, Gate, HitBTC. Moreover, 90% of the deposits among the 14 exchanges was accounted for at Huobi, Okex and Binance.

Some of the popular exchanges which were not included in the list were Coinbase, Kraken, Poloniex, and so on. Nevertheless, while the data is incomplete it gives an idea of how the deposits are flowing across the world.

Reference from the Past

In the past, the increasing demand for USDT has acted as a precursor for a rise in the crypto markets. Last year, during the same time, the increasing supply of USDT was followed by a crypto bull run.

usdt mcap
USDT MCap Vs. BTCUSD (TradingView)

Moreover, notice how increase paused before May as the crypto-bull run began suggesting conversion of USDT to Bitcoin.

In the current macroeconomic environment, the increasing demand for USD is also causing a rise in USDT volume. Light (alias), a crypto trader and analyst tweeted,

Demand for dollars manifesting itself through Tether, with $2.2B issued since mid-March.

Since crypto trading in China faces banking restrictions, traders have used stablecoins to bypass them.

Moreover, even in case of a sell-off from crypto markets, the USDT supply would have eventually converted to non-crypto US Dollar (in banks and cash). However, the fact that traders are choosing a cryptographic version is bullish for the markets.

Do you think that we’ll see a conversion of USDT to crypto or back to FIAT currencies/stocks? Please share your views with us. 

Advertisement
Nivesh Rustgi
Nivesh from Engineering Background is a full-time Crypto Analyst at Coingape. He is an atheist who believes in love and cultural diversity. He believes that Cryptocurrency is a necessity to deter corruption. He holds small amounts of cryptocurrencies. Faith and fear are two sides of the same coin. Follow him on X at @nivishoes or mail him at nivesh(at)coingape.com
Why trust CoinGape: CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.