How to buy USDT, step by step

Learning how to buy USDT comes down to five steps: open an account, verify your identity, add money, place an order, and choose the correct network if you move the coins out. The details depend on where you live and which platform you use. This guide explains the process only. It is not a recommendation to buy USDT or any other asset.

How do you buy USDT in the USA?

Most people in the US use a centralized exchange. You sign up with an email address, then complete identity verification, which normally means a government ID and personal details. Once approved, you link a bank account or card and deposit dollars. You then search for USDT, enter an amount and confirm the order. The exchange shows its fee before you confirm.

If you want to compare USDT with Circle's dollar token first, see USDT vs USDC and our guide on how to buy USDC.

How do you buy USDT on Coinbase or Kraken?

As of October 2026, Coinbase's Tether page says USDT is available on its exchange. The same page tells users to send USDT to Coinbase only on Ethereum, and warns against using any other blockchain for deposits.

Kraken's support page lists USDT on 11 networks, including Ethereum, Tron, Solana, Polygon, Arbitrum and The Open Network. Kraken notes that the network you send from must match the deposit address you selected, or funds can be lost.

The picture is different in Europe. Coinbase removed USDT for European customers in December 2024, citing MiCA. Kraken moved USDT to sell-only for EEA clients in February 2025 and converted remaining balances at the end of March 2025. Its support page still marks USDT as delisted for EEA clients.

Can you buy USDT on Cash App or with a credit card?

Cash App does not appear to offer USDT. Its stablecoin feature uses USDC, on Solana, Ethereum, Polygon and Arbitrum, as a payment rail that lets users deposit to and withdraw from their Cash App balance. It is not described as a way to buy or hold USDT.

Some exchanges accept debit or credit cards, but fees and limits vary by platform and payment method, so check the quote before you confirm. Our guide on buying crypto with a credit card covers this.

Which network should you use to withdraw USDT?

USDT is issued on several blockchains, and each version only works on its own network. Before withdrawing, check which network your wallet or the receiving platform supports, then select the same one on the exchange. Fees and speed differ by network. Sending on the wrong one is a common way to lose funds. Our guide to USDT on TRC-20 vs ERC-20 explains the two most used versions.