Stable February 4 upgrade, what does USDT0 becoming the native Gas token mean

As competition in the stablecoin sector heats up, Stable is making a key upgrade. On February 4th at 16:00, Stable will undergo a v1.2.0 mainnet protocol upgrade. The core change is to upgrade USDT0 from an ordinary token to a native Gas token, replacing the existing gUSDT. This is not just a role switch for the token; it reflects a strategic approach for stablecoin projects to differentiate themselves in payments, ecosystem development, and user experience.

Key Highlights of the Upgrade

Critical Change: USDT0’s Identity Upgrade

The most significant aspect of this upgrade is the transformation of USDT0’s role. USDT0 will be upgraded from a trading token to a native Gas token, directly replacing gUSDT. This means all transactions on the Stable network will use USDT0 to pay for Gas fees.

While this change appears simple, the underlying logic is profound: when the stablecoin itself becomes the Gas token, every user transaction is conducted using stablecoins, making the payment attribute more pure. Unlike traditional public chains that require holding dedicated Gas tokens, Stable’s design makes stablecoin payments the backbone of the network infrastructure.

Three Major Technical Upgrades

This upgrade also includes other important improvements:

• Zero Gas Transactions Support: Certain transaction scenarios can be completely free, further reducing user costs
• On-chain Signal Notifications for Staking and Unstaking Delegations: Enhances transparency and timeliness of on-chain governance
• Enhanced Solidity Compatibility for STABLE Tokens: Improves interoperability with the Ethereum ecosystem

Why is this upgrade so critical?

Sector Context: The Stablecoin Payment War Heats Up

According to the latest data, 59 new stablecoins were launched in 2025 alone, indicating that the stablecoin sector has moved from issuance to application. Research firm Artemis reports that the scale of crypto card payments is growing at an annualized rate of 106%, with annual transaction volume reaching $18 billion.

Against this backdrop, Stable’s upgrade strategy is clear: by making stablecoins the Gas tokens, they aim to optimize the payment experience. This mirrors the successful path of the TRON network—TRC20-USDT, with its low fees and fast settlement, has become a core channel for digital dollar circulation worldwide, with total transfers last year around $7.9 trillion.

USDT0 Market Status

USDT0 is currently ranked 3,748th in the cryptocurrency market cap list, launched in October 2025. According to the latest data:

• Current price: $0.999778, relatively stable
• 24-hour trading volume: approximately $13.23 million
• Active trading pairs: 127
• 24-hour price change: +0.13%

While not yet high in market cap, its stable price and relatively ample trading pairs indicate a solid liquidity foundation. After the upgrade, if zero Gas transactions are successfully implemented, it could attract more users.

Potential Impacts of this Upgrade

Short-term: Improved User Experience

Supporting zero Gas transactions means some trades can be completely free, which is very attractive to retail users. Especially in payment scenarios, every penny saved enhances competitiveness.

Mid-term: Increased Ecosystem Activity

When the Gas token is itself a stablecoin, the entire network’s transactions revolve around stablecoins, naturally increasing USDT0’s usage frequency. From Plasma platform’s perspective, this can also boost ecosystem stickiness.

Long-term: Establishing a Payment Infrastructure Position

If the upgrade is successful and user acceptance is high, Stable has the opportunity to carve out a differentiated position in the stablecoin payment space. Currently, the stablecoin sector has formed a multi-chain competitive landscape; Stable needs to find its niche.

Summary

Upgrading USDT0 to a native Gas token is a strategic move by Stable in the competition for stablecoin payments. This upgrade not only enhances user experience but also reinforces the core role of stablecoins within the network. In a context where TRON has already dominated payments with low-cost USDT and other projects are vying for payment scenarios, Stable’s choice is well-founded.

The key will be the market response post-upgrade. If zero Gas transactions truly attract users, USDT0’s trading volume and usage frequency are expected to rise, which will benefit the project’s long-term development. Monitoring the network performance and user feedback on the upgrade day will be crucial.