I've noticed that many people get confused when they see two types of USDT on Gate or any exchange. One says Ethereum above and the other Tron. The truth is, it's not as complicated as it seems; you just need to understand how this works.

The first thing to know is that USDT can exist on different blockchains. It's not that there are two different coins, but the same coin circulating through different pathways. Think of it like the same dollar that can travel through different banking systems.

In the case of USDT, the coin exists on the Ethereum blockchain (, which is sometimes called Ether), and also on the Tron blockchain, which is Tether's own network. When you use the ERC20 network, you're moving USDT through Ethereum. This is identified as USDT ERC20. On the other hand, when you see USDT TRC20, it means you're using Tether's Tron network.

So, what is the practical difference? Transactions on Tron are much cheaper than on the ERC20 network. That’s what really matters. If you want to save on fees, Tron is your best option. The ERC20 network has its advantages in other aspects, but the cost is definitely higher.

To distinguish between both versions, look at the logos. They are different, and that helps you quickly identify which one you're using. When making a transfer, make sure you're sending USDT on the correct network. If you send ERC20 to a Tron address, for example, you could run into problems.

In practice, most traders prefer to use Tron to exchange USDT because the fees are lower. But knowing the difference between the ERC20 network and Tron is important to avoid mistakes. This is basic information that everyone operating in cryptocurrencies should understand.