What is the fee for a USDT TRC-20 transfer? 65k or 130k?
Recipient’s USDT balance
Energy consumption
Not zero — ~65k Energy
Zero — ~130k Energy
The higher Energy consumption depends not on the age of the wallet, but on the recipient’s USDT balance before the transfer.
When Is ~130k Energy?
~130k Energy is required when the recipient’s USDT balance is zero.
Even an old and activated address may require ~130k Energy if its USDT TRC-20 balance is zero.
When Is ~65k Energy?
If the recipient already has USDT TRC-20 in their wallet, the higher Energy consumption does not apply. The TRON Network will require ~65k Energy.
The amount of USDT does not matter. The balance only needs to be greater than zero.
Why Does Energy Consumption Differ?
USDT operates through a TRC-20 smart contract.
If the recipient already holds USDT, the contract updates an existing non-zero balance. If the balance is zero, the contract creates a new non-zero balance entry. This operation requires more Energy.
Is This Related to Address Activation?
No. Account activation and the presence of USDT are separate conditions.
An address may be activated, hold TRX, and have been used for several years. However, if its USDT balance is zero, a transfer to that address may still require ~130k Energy.
What Happens If There Is Not Enough Energy?
The network first uses the sender’s available Energy. Any remaining amount is paid by burning TRX from the sender’s balance.
For example:
Required: 130k Energy
Available: 70k
Paid in TRX: 60k
You can explore many technical details on your own in the official Tron Network documentation or via the public block explorer. It is an interesting and engaging experience. The blockchain is completely transparent and offers a host of fascinating features.
Does This Apply Only to USDT?
No. A similar difference may occur with other TRC-20 tokens.
However, Energy consumption depends on the code of each specific smart contract. The values of ~65k and ~130k Energy apply specifically to USDT transfers under the current conditions of the TRON Network and may change over time.
Understanding these details allows you to request the correct amount of Energy for delegation from en-scope. For large lists of addresses with different conditions—some holding USDT and others having a zero balance—you can use our API. The system will automatically calculate and delegate the required amount of Energy for each address.