USDT Becomes Venezuela’s Oil Lifeline: 80% of Crude Payments Now in Stablecoin

In a landmark development for cryptocurrency adoption in national economies, Venezuela has shifted 80% of its crude oil payments to USDT, according to economist Oliveros. This strategic pivot to the Tether stablecoin represents a direct response to international sanctions and provides a crucial financial conduit for the nation's oil sector, which maintains a production level of 1 million barrels per day. Oliveros emphasized that "the crypto sector's most direct impact this year comes from oil revenue," highlighting how stablecoins have become the primary transaction medium for this vital industry. This move underscores a significant real-world use case for digital assets beyond speculative trading, demonstrating their utility in facilitating international trade under constrained financial conditions. While the adoption of USDT offers a novel solution to bypass traditional banking restrictions and secure revenue, Venezuela continues to face underlying liquidity challenges. The situation presents a compelling case study on the evolving role of cryptocurrencies in global commodity markets and sovereign finance, potentially setting a precedent for other nations navigating similar economic pressures. As of late 2025, this integration of a major stablecoin into a core national industry marks one of the most substantial intersections of cryptocurrency with traditional energy economics to date.

Venezuela's Oil Economy Embraces USDT Amid Sanctions

Venezuela now processes 80% of its crude oil payments in USDT, according to economist Oliveros. The stablecoin has become a lifeline for the sanctioned nation's oil sector, which produces 1 million barrels per day. "The crypto sector's most direct impact this year comes from oil revenue," Oliveros noted, revealing that stablecoins now facilitate most transactions.

Caracas faces liquidity challenges despite the crypto pivot. Strict currency controls complicate the conversion of stablecoin holdings into usable capital, creating bottlenecks in foreign exchange markets. "This pressure drives demand volatility," Oliveros cautioned, highlighting operational risks.

The $12 million oil trade—primarily with China—showcases cryptocurrencies' growing role in commodity settlements. USDT's adoption signals a broader shift: when traditional payment systems falter, stablecoins emerge as viable alternatives for sanctioned economies.

Tron Stablecoin Volume Surges Past XRP Network Activity

Tron's USDT and USDC transaction volume now towers over XRP's transfer activity by a factor of ten. The 90-day simple moving average shows $24.2 billion in stablecoin settlements on TRON compared to XRP's $2.2 billion.

Stablecoin dominance on tron has followed a steep upward trajectory throughout 2023. This growth underscores the network's rising importance for dollar-pegged cryptocurrency transactions.

While XRP maintains its position as a payment-focused blockchain, these metrics reveal shifting priorities among crypto users. The data suggests traders increasingly prefer the speed and cost-efficiency of stablecoin settlements over traditional payment networks.

USD1 Stablecoin Expands Supply by 45M Tokens Following Binance Yield Product Launch

USD1, the stablecoin minted by World Liberty Fi, surged its supply by 45 million tokens to 2.79 billion after Binance introduced a 20% annualized yield product. The expansion coincides with USD1's inclusion in Binance's Booster program, capped at 50,000 USD1 deposits. Subscriptions run from December 24 to January 23, 2026.

The token is now tradable via USD1/USDT pairs on Binance, with acquisition options through P2P Express. Existing holders can deposit USD1 directly. Trading volumes spiked to a one-month peak post-mint, signaling heightened market interest.

With $2.85 billion already active on BNB Chain, USD1 is integrated into DeFi protocols like PancakeSwap and Uniswap—though Binance's endorsement may eclipse existing lower-yield avenues. The move underscores Binance's aggressive onboarding of yield-bearing assets amid stablecoin competition.