Best Stablecoins: USDT vs USDC vs DAI
Updated February 2026 · 5 min read · By LiveCoinRate Research Team
Stablecoins are the backbone of crypto trading. They maintain a 1:1 peg to the US dollar, letting you park value without converting back to fiat. But not all stablecoins are equal. Here's how the top three compare.
Quick Comparison
| USDT | USDC | DAI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issuer | Tether Ltd | Circle | MakerDAO |
| Market Cap | $184.3B | $73.3B | $4.2B |
| Backing | Cash + T-Bills | Cash + T-Bills | Crypto collateral |
| Audited | Attestations | Full audits | On-chain |
| Best For | Trading pairs | Compliance | DeFi |
Our Take
USDT has the widest adoption — almost every exchange and trading pair supports it. Best for active traders who need maximum liquidity.
USDC is the safest centralized option with full audit transparency. Preferred by institutions and in the US market.
DAI is the decentralized alternative — no single company can freeze your funds. Best for DeFi users.