The TRON blockchain is the most popular network for USDT. TRC20, the standard built on TRON, is widely used for transferring stablecoins like USDT, initially gaining popularity due to its low fees. However, by late 2024, gas fees had risen significantly, raising eyebrows among users. Now, in 2025, fees can range from $4.50 to $9.50 — an eye-watering amount for regular users. If you’re curious how TRC20 transactions work and why TRON fees have climbed so high, you’re in the right place.

How do TRON transaction fees differ from other networks?

First thing to understand, TRON transaction fees differ from other blockchain networks like Ethereum or Bitcoin, mainly because of TRON’s unique resource-based model. Instead of paying fees directly in the native token for every transaction, TRON relies on two specific network resources: bandwidth and energy. The TRON Virtual Machine (TVM) consumes energy for computational tasks, a system that encourages efficient smart contract code and keeps network performance balanced. If your wallet doesn’t have enough energy, TRON burns TRX to generate it.

How much does it cost to transfer TRC20-USDT?

USDT transfers on TRC20 require both bandwidth and energy. Every TRON address receives a daily allocation of bandwidth points, with TRX wallets automatically granted 600 free points per day. A typical USDT transfer consumes around 345 points — once these are used up, TRX is burned. Energy, on the other hand, is not allocated automatically. The amount needed depends on whether the recipient address already holds USDT. A transfer typically requires between 65,000 and 130,000 Energy, which translates to roughly 13.5 to 27.5 TRX burned. With this math cleared up, a USDT transaction on TRC20 can cost between $4.5 and $9.5.

How can I get energy and bandwidth?

As you already know, both energy and bandwidth can be obtained by burning TRX. However, that’s clearly not the most cost-efficient method. There are other ways to acquire TRON Energy and reduce TRC20 transaction fees.

Staking TRX

One way to access network resources in the TRON ecosystem is through staking TRX. It can certainly make transaction fees more manageable, but there’s a significant “but.” Staking 1 TRX yields roughly 10 units of energy. As things stand, you would need to stake around 13,500 TRX to cover a single transfer requiring 130,000 energy. Right now, it feels a bit like a game — mine gold, hunt for crystals, gather minerals — just to complete a single transfer.

Buy TRON energy

Another option for the savvy is to buy TRON network resources through specialized services. Most operate smoothly via a bot or web interface, delegating the resources directly to your address — no hassle, no thousands of dollars locked up, and you enjoy real, tangible savings. A USDT transfer can end up costing around 60% less than burning TRX, and it’s clearly more convenient and accessible than staking.

We hope this guide helped you understand how USDT transactions work on TRC20. If you want to estimate your potential savings on transfers, feel free to use our calculator.