Key Takeaways:
- 2.6M daily users, 65% share of retail USDT transfers.
- 60% transaction fee cut boosts affordability.
- TVL climbs to $6B; JustLend and SunSwap lead ecosystem growth.
- Cross-chain integrations strengthen TRON’s global reach.
TRON Extends Lead in Retail Payments
TRON Network cemented its position as a retail payments powerhouse in Q3 2025, accounting for 65% of all global retail USDT transfers under $1,000. According to a CoinDesk Research report commissioned by TRON, the blockchain averaged 2.6 million daily active users, second only to Solana, with a striking 74% engaged in peer-to-peer transactions — the highest among major Layer-1 networks.
The surge underscores TRON’s dominance in the micro-transaction economy, as the network continues to serve as the go-to blockchain for small-value stablecoin transfers worldwide.
Fee Cuts and Governance Drive User Growth
A major catalyst behind this growth was the 60% reduction in base transaction fees, approved by TRON’s Super Representative community and implemented on August 29. The move lowered average daily fees from $1.9 million to $1.2 million by the end of September, keeping transfers affordable for retail users.
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Alongside fee reductions, technical upgrades and integrations further enhanced the network’s competitiveness. The v4.8.1 mainnet upgrade entered its verification phase, improving stability and DeFi throughput, while cross-chain integrations with NEAR and PayPal USD via LayerZero expanded TRON’s reach across ecosystems.
Ecosystem Expansion and Market Strength
TRON’s Total Value Locked (TVL) grew from $4.9 billion to $6 billion, led by lending protocol JustLend, which introduced USD1 collateral and expanded its USDD v2.0 supply mining program. DEX activity also spiked — SunSwap’s volumes rose 18%, and its new SunPerp perpetual DEX added another $65 million in daily volume.
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Key integrations with MetaMask, Kraken, and The Graph improved accessibility and infrastructure, while the launch of MoonPay’s TRON wallet expanded the network’s retail on-ramp.
Meanwhile, TRX trading volume hit $82 billion for the quarter, underscoring strong liquidity conditions across both spot and derivatives markets.
A Profitable Quarter for TRON
Despite rising competition from newer stablecoin networks like Plasma, TRON captured a positive chain value of $4.5 million, indicating sustainable on-chain economics.
As the network evolves into a cornerstone of digital dollar settlement, TRON’s next challenge lies in diversifying beyond lending and maintaining profitability amid lower fees. Still, its scale, liquidity, and affordability continue to make it the leading blockchain for retail stablecoin payments.
