Tldr:
- Pornhub replaced USDT with USDC for creator payments, citing the better reliability and regulatory compliance of MiCA.
- This switch ends Pornhub’s infrastructure partnership with Justin Sun’s TronLink wallet that was established in 2020.
- Drift Protocol took the opposite route, moving from USDC to USDT after a $127.5 million Tether-backed bailout.
- USDC’s MiCA compliance status promotes adoption of platforms operating within regulated financial environments.
US dollars officially It has replaced USDT as the preferred stablecoin for creator payments on Pornhub. The world’s largest adult website confirmed the change in an email sent to its content creators.
The switch comes after years of reliance on Tether following PayPal’s exit from the platform in 2020. Pornhub cited payment reliability and regulatory compliance as key reasons for adopting Circle’s stablecoin.
The move also ends the platform’s infrastructure partnership with Justin Sun’s TronLink wallet.
Pornhub cites MiCA compliance in USDC transition
The email sent to the creators is described US dollars As a “fully regulated, backed, MiCA-compliant stablecoin.” Pornhub added that it offers a “safer option for your earnings” compared to USDT.
The platform also stated that USDC is “pegged 1:1 to the US dollar.” She also noted that it “works just like USDT on the ERC-20 network.”
OnlyFans creator Gracie Hartie shared a screenshot of the email on social media. A Japanese merchant also confirmed receiving the same message from Pornhub.
The email specifically stated that the change is intended to make payments “more reliable” for content creators. The widespread distribution of the message confirmed the policy shift across multiple regions.
The Pornhub Model Program page no longer lists USDT as an available payment method. Instead, the page now displays USDC alongside Paxum, Verge, and Cosmo.
Removing USDT from the payments list represents a complete and intentional transition. Creators are expected to update their wallet information to reflect the change.
Pornhub It adopted USDT back in 2020 after PayPal cut ties with the platform. “Since PayPal’s decision to stop paying thousands of models two months ago, we’ve been striving…to offer you more choices,” the company stated at the time.
USDT infrastructure is supported by a partnership with Justin Sun’s TronLink wallet. This partnership no longer appears anywhere on the Pornhub Model Program page.
USDT and USDC continue to compete across different platforms
While Pornhub has moved to USDC, a separate development has seen USDT gain ground in another ecosystem. Earlier this month, pregnancy It stepped in to support the hacked Drift protocol with a $127.5 million bailout.
The Solana-based platform was drained of about $285 million by attackers. North Korea-linked hackers were suspected of hacking a multi-signature wallet to carry out the hack.
As part of the rescue deal, Drift Protocol agreed to move its settlement assets from USDC to USDT. This effectively reversed the preference for stablecoins within this ecosystem.
The back and forth between the two stablecoins reflects the ongoing competition in the cryptocurrency market. Every major event on the platform seems to shift institutional preferences in a new direction.
These moves are made by both Pornhub and Drifting Show how adoption of stablecoins continues to shift across platforms. USDC’s position within MiCA gives it an advantage in compliance-focused environments.
However, USDT maintains dominance in markets where liquidity and speed take priority. The broader competition between the two stablecoins remains very active.
