Anatomy of the Spread
A spread looks like one number. This page unpacks it into the layers it really is: the wholesale spread the service pays, the retail layer it adds, the corridor premium for specific fiat currencies, and the risk buffer for volatile times.
Wholesale spread
The service itself trades against a market with a bid-ask. The gap between those two prices is the wholesale spread — the cost floor. No retail client can cross below it.
Retail layer
The service adds its own margin on top — typically 1-3% for USDT retail. This layer covers operations: support, payment rails, compliance, profit.
Corridor premium
RUB and CNY corridors carry additional costs: payment system fees, settlement risk, and thinner liquidity on weekends and local holidays. Each corridor has its own clock and its own premium — and they are not the same at 10:00 and 18:00.
FAQ
Is a narrow spread always the best choice?
Not necessarily. A very narrow spread may signal a service that does not invest in support or compliance. The sweet spot is a spread narrow enough to be competitive and wide enough to sustain a desk that answers when something goes wrong.
Related reading
Understanding the Spread
Every USDT quote is a bundle. Inside: the wholesale price the service paid, the retail margin it adds, and the corridor tax for the currency path you chose. This guide unbundles them.
Timing Your USDT Exchange
The same deal at different hours can carry different rates. This guide shows how liquidity clocks work for RUB and CNY corridors and what window gives you the most predictable pricing.