USDT is not one coin on one blockchain. Tether issues it on several networks, and the copies do not mix: USDT on Tron and USDT on Ethereum are separate tokens on separate ledgers. A customer can only pay you on the network where their USDT sits, and if they send it on a network you did not offer, it can be lost.
So the question is not "should I accept USDT?" but "on which networks?".
The short answer
Turn on Tron (TRC20) and BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) for reach, add Solana, TON and one Ethereum layer 2 (Arbitrum or Base) for speed, and keep Ethereum (ERC20) for large invoices. Then watch your reports and switch off what nobody uses.
Network by network
| Network | Typical fee for the customer | Confirms in | Who holds USDT there |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tron (TRC20) | About 1 USD | Seconds | Most exchange users, especially in Asia, Africa and Latin America |
| BNB Smart Chain | A few cents | Seconds | Binance users and many retail wallets |
| Solana | Under a cent | Seconds | Solana wallet users, a growing share of retail |
| TON | A few cents | Seconds | Telegram wallet users |
| Arbitrum and Base | A few cents | Seconds | People who already use DeFi or Coinbase |
| Polygon | Under a cent | About a minute | Gaming and NFT crowds |
| Ethereum (ERC20) | 1 to 10 USD or more | A few minutes | Larger holders, institutions |
Fees change with network demand; these are rough ranges, not quotes.
What to watch for
The network name is the whole game. On the Cryptain checkout the network is printed next to the amount, the address format is checked, and the customer is warned before they copy. Do the same in your own emails: say "USDT on Tron (TRC20)", never just "USDT".
Exchanges pick defaults. When customers pay from an exchange, the exchange may pre-select a network. Tell them to check it matches the checkout.
Large invoices. For a 20,000 USD invoice, an Ethereum fee is small in proportion and many treasury wallets live there. For a 15 USD top-up it is not.
Setting it up in Cryptain
Open Stores, choose your store, and tick the coins under Accepted coins. Each USDT network appears as its own option, so you can offer exactly the mix you want. The currencies page lists every network with its confirmation count.