Which chain version of a stablecoin should you choose? (ERC20 / TRC20 / Arbitrum / BNB, etc.)

Explains how multi-chain stablecoin versions differ, comparing ERC20, TRC20, and major L2s on cost, speed, and real-world use cases.

{{{##anchor=前言}}} Preface One of the easiest ways to get confused the first time you touch stablecoins is: Why does the same USDT or USDC have so many “versions”?ERC20? TRC20? BEP20? Arbitrum? Optimism? Polygon? And the more nerve‑wracking part: If I pick the wrong chain, do I lose money? If you’re new to Web3, this is genuinely disorienting. But to really understand it, you only need to answer three questions: Why do stablecoin issuers mint on multiple chains? What are the core differences between those chains? In different real scenarios, which version should a normal person choose? In this article, we’ll explain it in plain language—so you won’t get burned by “wrong chain” mistakes, and you’ll understand the logic behind chain selection. {{{##anchor=part-1}}} 1. Why do stablecoins have versions on multiple chains? Let’s start with the question itself: USDT/USDC are not “one coin”, but “multiple contract instances on different chains”. Using USDT as an example, what you’re actually seeing is: ERC20 USDT (Ethereum mainnet) TRC20 USDT (Tron) BEP20 USDT (BNB Chain) Polygon USDT Arbitrum USDT Optimism USDT Solana USDT (a completely different underlying architecture) They share the sa