What is a USDT payment? How to pay with USDT in 2026 (swap to USDC)

What is a USDT payment? It is a payment settled in USDT (Tether), a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar: the customer sends USDT from their wallet or exchange, and the merchant receives a stable value instead of a volatile crypto. In Europe, since the MiCA regulation, regulated payment solutions no longer accept USDT, but you can still use it after a swap to USDC.

Short answer: USDT is no longer accepted directly by regulated payment solutions in Europe since MiCA. The solution is simple: swap your USDT for USDC (or EURC) in one minute, from your wallet, then pay at merchants that accept crypto.

This guide explains why USDT is blocked, how to do the swap step by step, and where to spend your stablecoins afterwards.

Why USDT is no longer accepted for payments in Europe

Since the full application of the MiCA regulation (Markets in Crypto-Assets), a regulated payment provider can only offer stablecoins issued by entities authorized in Europe. Tether, the issuer of USDT, has not obtained the e-money issuer authorization required by MiCA.

As a result, Lyzi does not accept USDT. This is not a commercial choice, it is a compliance requirement that protects merchants and their customers.

How to swap USDT for USDC in 1 minute (simplified DeFi)

The Lyzi swap is a simplified decentralized finance (DeFi) tool: the exchange runs directly from your wallet, on the blockchain, with no account to open and without handing your funds to an intermediary. The LI.FI aggregator compares the available routes to offer you the best rate.

1. Open pay.lyzi.io/otc-swap and connect your wallet (MetaMask, Rabby, Trust Wallet, Phantom…).
2. In "From", choose USDT and the network where your USDT is held.
3. In "To", choose USDC (or EURC if you prefer the euro).
4. Enter the amount: the rate, the swap fees and the network fees are displayed before validation.
5. Confirm in your wallet: your USDC arrives in the same wallet, ready to be spent.

Multi-chain, from Robinhood Chain to Ethereum. The swap covers dozens of networks: Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Polygon, OP Mainnet, Avalanche, BSC, Robinhood Chain, HyperEVM, Monad, Unichain, Sonic, Linea, Scroll, zkSync, Mantle, Celo, Gnosis, Cronos, World Chain and many more. You can even change network during the exchange, for example from USDT on BSC to USDC on Polygon.

Important: this swap takes place outside the regulated payment flow. You remain in full control of your funds and responsible for your transactions: always check the network and the amount before confirming.

→ Swap my USDT for USDC now

How much does the swap cost, and which network should you pay on?

Two costs apply: the swap fees and the blockchain network fees. Both are displayed before you confirm, nothing is charged without your approval.

To keep fees low, choose a low-cost network that Lyzi accepts directly as the destination: Polygon, Arbitrum One, Base or OP Mainnet. Your USDC (or EURC) can be used there right away to pay.

Stablecoins accepted to pay with Lyzi

• USDC (Circle): dollar stablecoin, the most liquid regulated stablecoin.
• EURC (Circle): euro stablecoin, MiCA compliant.
• EURCV (Société Générale-FORGE): euro stablecoin issued by a European bank.
• EURE (Monerium): euro stablecoin issued by a licensed e-money institution.

Their value is backed by audited reserves. The merchant chooses settlement in euros or in stablecoins, with no volatility exposure.

How to pay with your USDC in store or online

1. The merchant displays a QR code on its payment terminal or on its payment page.
2. You scan it with your phone's camera: the pay.lyzi.io payment page opens.
3. You choose USDC (or EURC) and send the exact amount on the indicated network.
4. Confirmation takes about 2 minutes. The merchant sees "Payment validated".

The Lyzi payment solution is compatible with 1M+ payment terminals and more than 500 wallets.

Where to spend USDT once swapped?

Once converted to USDC or EURC, your funds can be spent at merchants equipped with Lyzi, in store and online: brands such as Printemps, Groupe Barrière, Porsche, Lamborghini, ST Dupont or SBM Monaco, as well as restaurants, hotels and local shops.

→ Pay with crypto in store · The complete guide to crypto payments

Are you a merchant? Accept stablecoins without changing your terminal

Lyzi integrates with existing payment terminals, e-commerce sites and by API. Your customers who hold USDT can swap it for USDC and then pay you, fully compliantly.

→ Solution for merchants · E-commerce solution · Contact us

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay directly in USDT at a Lyzi merchant?

No. USDT is not MiCA compliant. Swap your USDT for USDC through a decentralized (DeFi) swap, for example on pay.lyzi.io/otc-swap, then pay.

Is the USDT to USDC swap risky?

The exchange runs from your own wallet, at the rate displayed before validation. You keep control of your funds. Always check the network and the amount before confirming.

On which networks can I swap my USDT?

On dozens of blockchains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Polygon, BSC, Avalanche and Robinhood Chain, with the option to change network during the exchange.

Who accepts Tether (USDT) as a payment method?

In the European Union, regulated payment providers no longer accept USDT since MiCA. The compliant route is to swap it for USDC or EURC, which merchants equipped with Lyzi accept.

Is the USDT to USDC swap taxable?

In France, exchanges between crypto-assets, stablecoins included, are not taxable. It is the conversion into euros or the purchase of a good or service that can generate a taxable capital gain. Read our article on crypto taxation.

Can you spend USDT online?

Yes, after the swap: e-commerce sites equipped with Lyzi accept USDC and EURC, with the same QR code or payment link flow.

Read also: USDT banned in Europe: what to do after MiCA? · USDT or USDC: what are the differences? · Pay in USDC with Lyzi · Lyzi FAQ