USDT ERC-20 vs TRC-20: what’s the difference?

ERC-20 and TRC-20 are token standards on two different blockchains. USDT exists on both: ERC-20 USDT on Ethereum and TRC-20 USDT on Tron. They are worth the same, but they are not interchangeable — each can only be sent to an address on its own network.

Side-by-side

ERC-20 (Ethereum): addresses start with 0x and are 42 characters long; you pay gas in ETH; transfers usually confirm within a minute or two; fees rise when Ethereum is busy.

TRC-20 (Tron): addresses start with T and are 34 characters long; you pay fees in TRX (or energy); transfers confirm in about a minute; fees are usually lower for plain transfers.

Which should you use?

Use the network the receiving side supports. Exchanges and wallets list which USDT networks they accept for deposits; sending TRC-20 USDT to an ERC-20-only address (or the reverse) can lose the funds.

If you need USDT on the other network, swap it: TorrentSwap converts ERC-20 USDT to TRC-20 USDT (and back) in one transfer without an account.

How to move USDT from ERC-20 to TRC-20

Choose USDT on Ethereum as the asset you send and USDT on Tron as the asset you receive, enter your Tron (T…) address and an Ethereum refund address, then send the exact amount to the one-time deposit address.

Sources and further reading

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USDT ERC-20 to TRC-20 USDT TRC-20 to ERC-20 BTC to USDT (TRC-20)

Frequently asked questions

Can I send TRC-20 USDT to an ERC-20 address?

No. They are different networks with different address formats. Use a cross-chain swap to convert between them instead of sending directly.

Is TRC-20 USDT cheaper than ERC-20?

Usually, for simple transfers: Tron fees are paid in TRX/energy and are typically lower than Ethereum gas. Exact costs vary with network conditions.

Convert USDT between networks

ERC-20 ↔ TRC-20 in one transfer, no account needed.

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