USDT TRC-20 vs ERC-20 vs L2: which one to use
Note: MoneroP2P charges a fee on every completed swap (see FAQ ). It runs with real money on Arbitrum One, with a maximum of 100 USDT per swap.
Short answer: it is the same Tether digital dollar, but on separate networks that do not mix. For a swap, use the network where your USDT already is and where the service is active. Layer-2 networks (like Arbitrum) are usually cheaper than Ethereum, and Tron is widely used in Latin America, but fees change over time: check them in your wallet before sending.
Key differences
| Tron (TRC-20) | Ethereum (ERC-20) | Arbitrum and other L2s | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Address format | Starts with T | 0x… | 0x… (same as Ethereum) |
| Fee currency | TRX (energy and bandwidth) | ETH | ETH (on the L2) |
| Typical cost | Variable; depends on available energy | Usually the highest | Usually low |
| Common wallets | TronLink and others | MetaMask and compatible | MetaMask and compatible |
| Can Tether freeze? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
We give no fee figures because they change with congestion and each network’s decisions. Your wallet shows the exact cost before you sign.
Are they the same coin?
Same value, different network. USDT on Tron cannot be sent directly to an Ethereum address: you need an exchange or a bridge. Sending on the wrong network is one of the most common mistakes.
Which one does MoneroP2P use?
- Now: Arbitrum Sepolia (testnet), with a test token.
- Planned: Arbitrum, whose USDT (USD₮0) lets you authorize the deposit with a signature, with no extra approval transaction.
- Under evaluation: Tron. The contract already compiles for Tron but still needs testing on its testnet; Tron has quirks (for example, its USDT returns an unexpected value on transfer) that the contract already handles.
How to choose
- Where is your USDT today? Moving it across networks costs fees and time.
- Do you have the fee currency? Without ETH (or TRX) you cannot sign.
- What does the service support? Only use networks active in the app.
- How fast do you need it? L2s confirm in seconds; Monero takes longer to confirm the XMR.
A risk shared by all
Tether can freeze addresses on all these networks. MoneroP2P uses a separate contract per swap so one freeze does not affect others, but the risk exists. Read the risk notice.