Tether Keeps Minting Billions but Altcoin Market Still Starved for Fresh Liquidity

Key Takeaways

• Tether’s $1 billion USDT mint could inject fresh liquidity into the crypto market.
• Historically, large USDT issuances have preceded bullish trends.
• Analysts suggest the additional liquidity may benefit altcoins, though signs of a sustained rally remain uncertain.

On Sunday, March 2, Tether minted $1 billion USDT . Such large-scale stablecoin issuances often precede market rallies, serving as a liquidity bridge for traders and institutions looking to buy into digital assets.

However, despite Tether pumping billions into circulation, the altcoin market remains starved for fresh capital, struggling to break out of its stagnation.

Traders and analysts are watching closely for a shift, wondering if this influx of liquidity will fuel a wave of buying.

A Liquidity Boost That May Not Reach Altcoins

Historically, large-scale USDT mints have been seen as bullish signals, as traders and institutions use the stablecoin to enter and exit crypto positions. Bitcoin often benefits first, but expectations remain that altcoins will eventually follow.

Crypto expert James Meidinger believes the latest mint could indicate renewed institutional interest in digital assets.

“Tether mints USDT as needed to meet institutional demand. If more USDT is entering exchanges, it could indicate that big players are positioning for a bullish run,” he said.

However, the liquidity injection hasn’t yet translated into meaningful gains for altcoins, which remain under pressure. The lack of fresh capital flowing into smaller tokens suggests that despite Tether’s continued expansion, traders may still be cautious about riskier assets.

Analysts at Alva suggest that while liquidity conditions are improving, they may not be enough to drive an altcoin breakout.

“Market indicators point to a shift, with signs of stabilization or even an upward push in prices on the horizon,” Alva analysts noted.

Market expert Jacqueline Marjory, however, urged caution.

“It could be a signal for more bullish momentum, but it’s always a good idea to stay cautious with these massive moves,” she said.

Victor Olanrewaju at CCN analyzed that despite the optimism from some analysts, on-chain data suggests altcoins are not yet out of the woods.

Data from Token Terminal shows that Tether’s transfer volume, a key indicator of market liquidity, has dropped significantly.

On Feb. 28, it stood at over $46 billion, but today, it has plunged below $20 billion. This sharp decline suggests that while liquidity remains in the market, traders are hesitant to deploy capital into riskier assets like altcoins.

A similar trend is visible in the number of stablecoin senders, which has fallen from 896,000 last month to 704,600.

Typically, a higher number of senders signals a stronger demand for altcoins. However, the current downturn suggests that altcoins have yet to attract the liquidity needed for a sustained recovery.