USDC and USDT are both pegged to the US dollar and both trade at approximately $1.00. They are not interchangeable — they are different tokens issued by different companies on different networks, and you cannot send one to an address expecting the other. Converting between them requires an actual swap.
When you would swap USDC to USDT
The most common reason is network compatibility. Your destination — an exchange, a payment platform, a DeFi protocol — accepts USDT but not USDC, or accepts USDT on a specific network (like TRC-20 on Tron) where USDC is less common. The second reason is issuer preference — some users prefer USDT's wider ecosystem reach, others prefer USDC's regulatory compliance profile. The third is simply holding the form your counterparty expects.
How to swap USDC to USDT
Select USDC as the send asset and specify the network your USDC is on — Ethereum, Solana, Arbitrum, Base, and others are common. Select USDT as the receive asset and specify the output network. Enter the amount. Provide your USDT address. The service generates a USDC deposit address. Send USDC. USDT arrives on your specified network when the deposit confirms.
The spread on stablecoin-to-stablecoin swaps
Because both assets are pegged to $1.00, the spread on a USDC-to-USDT swap is the primary cost — there is no price movement to account for. On a non-custodial swap service, this spread is typically 0.3��0.8% for stablecoin pairs. For large amounts, a DEX like Curve — which specialises in stablecoin liquidity — may offer tighter spreads if you are on a compatible chain.
USDC to USDT on Terce: specify both the send and receive networks carefully. The two tokens exist on multiple chains and the networks do not have to match — you can send ERC-20 USDC and receive TRC-20 USDT in a single swap.