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How kUSDT works. USDT from Ethereum and BNB Chain, issued 1:1 on Kaspa Layer 1 as a KCC-20 covenant token.
How it worksProtocol specificationSecurityOpen the app

What kUSDT is

Section titled “What kUSDT is”

kUSDT is a token on Kaspa Layer 1 (L1). Each kUSDT is backed by one USDT locked in a vault contract on Ethereum or on BNB Chain. kUSDT has 6 decimals, like USDT on Ethereum.

  • On Kaspa, kUSDT is a KCC-20 covenant token. KCC-20 is the Kaspa convention for fungible tokens. A kUSDT balance is an ordinary Kaspa transaction output whose spending rules every Kaspa node checks. kUSDT uses the standard KCC-20 token code unchanged, so wallets that support KCC-20 can read it.
  • On Ethereum and BNB Chain, one vault contract per chain holds the locked USDT.
  • A bridge of 5 independent signers connects the two sides. Any 3 of them can approve a mint on Kaspa or a payout from a vault, and both sides limit how much can move per day.
  • KasPool, a constant-product pool, lets anyone swap KAS for kUSDT and back. It also runs as covenants on Kaspa L1.
  • kUSDT Wallet, a browser extension with KCC-20 support, signs everything on the Kaspa side. Its mainnet version is published right after the launch, and these docs will link it then.

Why Kaspa L1

Section titled “Why Kaspa L1”

Everything that happens to kUSDT on the Kaspa side is a Kaspa L1 transaction. kUSDT does not use the Igra or Kasplex layer-2 networks, their contracts or their bridges. Its rules run in Kaspa’s own script engine, and its transactions are ordered and confirmed like any KAS payment. Kaspa L1, not a layer 2 explains the difference.

How it works, in three steps

Section titled “How it works, in three steps”
Step 1
Deposit

You lock USDT in the vault on Ethereum or BNB Chain and name a Kaspa address. The vault numbers the deposit and keeps a 0.50 % fee (at least 0.50 USDT).

Step 2
Mint

Once the deposit is final, at least 3 of the 5 signers sign it. The BridgeMint covenant on Kaspa checks the signatures and the limits, and creates your kUSDT.

Step 3
Use or redeem

Send kUSDT, or swap it for KAS in KasPool. To redeem, you send it to a burn owner that names your EVM address. The signers approve, and the vault pays you USDT.

The full flows are in Bridge USDT in and Redeem kUSDT.

Key numbers

Section titled “Key numbers”

These are the mainnet defaults from the specification, with the values at the launch where they are lower.

Item Value
Signers 5; any 3 approve a mint or a payout; 4 unpause, change limits or replace signers on Kaspa
Bridge fee 0.50 % each way; a deposit pays more, up to 2.50 %, while many deposits were made that day (Fees)
Minimum fee 0.50 USDT per deposit; 5 USDT per release on Ethereum, 0.50 USDT on BNB Chain
Deposit size 10 to 100 000 USDT (8 000 at the mainnet launch)
Kaspa mint allowance Twice the signers’ daily limit, refills fully in 24 hours (100 000 USDT at the mainnet launch)
Vault release allowance 250 000 USDT per vault, refills fully in 24 hours (50 000 at the mainnet launch)
Kaspa hard cap 1 000 000 000 kUSDT; it can only go down
Pool fee 0.50 % per swap (0.45 % to liquidity providers, 0.05 % to the protocol)

Status

Section titled “Status”
Part Status
Mainnet Launching on 14 November 2026 from the release mainnet-v0.9.8-rc.25. The web app opens at trestly.io once the launch is verified; the addresses are published on Status then
Public testnet Ran from 4 to 14 November 2026 on Kaspa testnet-10, Sepolia and BSC testnet. It has ended (The public testnet)
Signers 5 independent operators; any 3 approve a mint or a payout, 4 for Kaspa governance
Monitors Two, and either can pause the bridge (The monitor)
Vault owner An AccessManager under a 2-of-3 Safe: 48-hour delays for changes, a 6-hour emergency delay, two cancellers
Internal attack rounds and outside reviews Done, each finding answered (Audit status). None of them is an audit
External audit Not audited
Legal review Open

Details are on the status page and the roadmap.

Where to go next

Section titled “Where to go next”