Tether has unfrozen approximately $79 million in USDT tokens by removing 497 addresses from its blacklist over the past 24 hours, according to data from BlockSec. The bulk of the unfrozen addresses—447 wallets—were on the TRON network, while 50 addresses were unfrozen on Ethereum.
The removal of frozen USDT addresses is significant because Tether maintains a blacklist feature that allows the stablecoin issuer to freeze tokens on specific wallets, a mechanism typically used to combat fraud, sanctions evasion, and other illicit activities. The scale of unfreezing suggests either a resolution of flagged accounts or a policy adjustment, though Tether has not issued any official announcement regarding the action.
The move raises questions about the criteria and processes behind address freezing and unfreezing on major blockchains. Market participants monitor such actions closely given Tether's centralized control over USDT liquidity and the potential implications for token holders previously restricted from accessing their funds.