Master stablecoin spread arbitrage on Bybit using USDe & USDtb. Learn how to earn high yields via low-risk leveraged crypto trading strategies.

 have been an essential part of the cryptosphere for more than a decade. Backed by collateral or 

 mechanisms and pegged to an established traditional finance asset, often the US dollar, they offer rate stability in the turbulent world of cryptocurrency. Traditional stablecoins, however, don’t generate yields. Their real value erodes over time due to inflation. 

 have entered the market in recent years to combat this issue.

Yield-bearing stablecoins feature an operational mechanism that allows them to stay pegged to a traditional asset and generate returns on the principal amount. This enables crypto investors to enjoy low-risk returns on their investments.

The yield-bearing nature of these assets also opens up a way to optimize their returns via spread arbitrage, particularly the leveraged version.

In its most basic form, leveraged spread arbitrage allows you to profit from the difference in borrowing and earning interest rates. Bybit offers a great way to earn higher stablecoin yields using this technique. You can borrow funds at lower interest through the margin trading option in your account by using your 

 principal and invest the borrowed amounts for interest in USDe or USDtb, two yield-bearing stablecoins offered by one of the leading 

What are USDe and USDtb, and why do they offer high yields?

The Ethena protocol is among the leading providers of yield-bearing stablecoins in the crypto market. The project’s first and best-known stablecoin, 

, is an algorithmic crypto pegged to USD that uses 

 contracts, to generate yield. ENA calls USDe a synthetic dollar. Thanks to its yield-bearing properties, USDe has been a tremendous market success. As of late May 2025, it ranks fourth among all stablecoins by 

Following the success of USDe, ENA launched 

, another dollar-pegged yield-bearing stablecoin. Unlike USDe, USDtb isn’t based on algorithmic trading strategies. Instead, it is indirectly backed by high-grade, low-risk traditional assets. USDtb is directly based on 

 (BUIDL), which invests in US treasury bills, repurchase agreements and other cash equivalents. As BUIDL generates yield from these assets, it flows over to USDtb, delivering low-risk, institutional-grade returns for the stablecoin’s holders.

While USDe and USDtb feature different models for generating returns — the former via active decentralized trading strategies and the latter via the backing of traditional assets — they are both known as yield-bearing assets. Their typical annual yields range from around 4% to 15%, depending on market conditions.

Spread arbitrage opportunity through interest rate gaps

Spread arbitrage is a trading technique that allows you to earn returns using the difference between borrowing and investing interest rates.

Using spread arbitrage at the most basic level involves borrowing funds at X% APR and investing them in a financial product that generates Y% APR. You earn a profit when Y is larger than X.

USDe and USDtb offer healthy yield opportunities and, under favorable market conditions, can generate yields that may exceed borrowing rates for assets like USDT and USDC. This creates opportunities for spread arbitrage using a combination of these stablecoins.

For instance, you may borrow USDT/USDC for 

 (UTA). You can then buy USDe/USDtb with your borrowed funds to enjoy a potential rate difference between their yields and the interest you pay on your borrowed USDT/USDC. Bybit regularly offers campaigns based on zero fees for swaps between key stablecoin pairs, potentially making your entire spread arbitrage process even more cost-efficient.

An example of a simple version of spread arbitrage involves swapping your USDT/USDC funds to USDe and earning stable returns. This scenario assumes no leverage and, therefore, no borrowing interest to pay. While this is a great way to earn low-risk returns from USDe, it doesn’t maximize the spread arbitrage strategy’s potential.

A more advanced version that delivers potentially higher returns is via the use of leverage. This involves borrowing funds in USDT, or preferably in USDC, which usually features lower borrowing interest, and investing the borrowed funds along with your own principal in USDe to boost the total yield from the stablecoin. For instance, if the USDC borrow rate is 4% and USDe’s APR is 5%, the difference in the rates, 1%, represents your profit.

Let’s review a typical example of how you can benefit from leveraged spread arbitrage, assuming your initial capital is 1,000 USDT and the leverage ratio is 6x.

You start with 1,000 USDT of your own crypto funds.

You then borrow 5,000 USDT, using your 1,000 USDT as collateral. This gives you 6,000 USDT of total capital to use for your spread arbitrage trading.

You take the 6,000 USDT and convert it to USDe. For example, let’s assume that you can earn a USDe yield of 5% annually from the stablecoin — a relatively conservative estimate. 

 USDe on ENA may deliver much higher returns depending on market conditions and the protocol’s performance (USDe’s yield rate as of late May 2025 is 6.2%). Let’s also assume that your borrowed USDT has an interest rate of 4%.

With the assumed yield from USDe of 5%, you earn:

Assuming the 4% interest rate on USDT, you must pay:

Performing spread arbitrage using USDe/USDtb on Bybit gives you multiple benefits:

1. Open a UTA account (if you don’t already have one) and enable margin trading for USDe/USDtb, USDT and USDC.

Set USDe/USDtb, USDT and USDC as collateral.

For the website version, here are the relevant screenshots.

If you use the Bybit mobile app, refer to the screenshots below.

, set 10x leverage, execute a trade to sell 4,000 USDT, or whatever amount you prefer to allocate to spread arbitrage, and borrow 4,000 USDC.

Use the borrowed USDC to buy USDe. Since Bybit offers you a way to earn interest on USDe on the platform, simply hold the borrowed funds in your UTA account to start earning yield.

Track your yields and repayments to see how your spread arbitrage is performing.

If you decide to stop using spread arbitrage, simply sell USDe and repay USDC.

Naturally, just like any other trading strategy, spread arbitrage using stablecoins involves certain risks.

One is the depegging risk. If USDe falls below $1, you may incur magnified losses. For example, with a 5x leverage, a 1% drop in the stablecoin’s rate will result in a 5% total loss.

 is the second type of risk. If yields from USDe drop below the borrowing costs, the entire spread arbitrage strategy will result in a net loss.

Leveraged spread arbitrage using stablecoins is a great way to earn returns with manageable risk. It may be suitable for users comfortable and familiar with the use of margin; traders looking for alternatives to earning yield from staking, 

 and similar DeFi strategies; and those who prefer more passive ways to generate yield from their funds.

However, this strategy is not particularly suitable for beginners, users not comfortable with leverage trading or those skeptical of synthetic stablecoins.

The spread arbitrage strategy described above, along with the examples, does not constitute financial advice. Before applying this strategy in any form, 

Intermediate

stablecoin spread arbitrage.png

High-yield stablecoin strategy: Mastering USDe/USDtb spread arbitrage on Bybit

This is a thought leadership article written by Mazurka Zeng, Head of Fiat at Bybit.

This post is written by Mazurka Zeng. Mazurka is the Head of Fiat at Bybit.

Stablecoins have become a cornerstone of the digital asset ecosystem, providing a crucial bridge between fiat currencies and the crypto world. 

As Head of Fiat at Bybit, I've seen firsthand how user needs are diversifying, pushing innovation beyond traditional fiat-pegged stablecoins.

Exponential growth in the stablecoin sector

The stablecoin sector is maturing, driven by increasing adoption and regulatory progress, like the 

 the US House Financial Services Committee, with the GENIUS Act 

 to final passage by the US Senate on May 20.

In my role overseeing Bybit's fiat operations, we've integrated stablecoins deeply into our ecosystem. They enable seamless transactions on the 

 platform. Further, they provide yield in 

 and facilitate seamless spending via the 

. This expanding utility fuels the need for a broader range of stable assets.

This growth is undeniable. The market capitalization of fiat-backed stablecoins surged to an all-time high market cap of $248 billion by May 22, 

 with a $151.9 billion market cap, even as it is facing MiCA compliance hurdles in Europe. This dominance, however, prompts a vital question: 

What's next for stablecoins beyond the established fiat-backed giants?

One compelling alternative that is gaining traction is 

. Unlike fiat-backed stablecoins, XAUT is pegged 1:1 to one fine troy ounce of physical gold, securely stored in Swiss vaults and meeting the LBMA Good Delivery standard. This offers users direct digital ownership of gold, combining its historical stability with blockchain efficiency.

Gold has long been valued as an inflation hedge. In 2025, amid ongoing economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, XAUT saw significant interest, reflected in its 25% year-to-date price surge. Furthermore, XAUT solves the traditional challenges of physical gold ownership — storage costs and accessibility issues. It allows for fractional ownership (down to 0.000001 troy ounce) and easy, borderless transfers, 24/7.

 markets. The strong user interest confirms a clear appetite for stablecoins backed by tangible, non-fiat reserves, especially during times of market volatility.

Another exciting development is the rise of regionally focused, MiCA-compliant stablecoins. In March 2025, Bybit.NL 

, issued by Quantoz Payments and StablR Limited, respectively. Both are fully backed by fiat reserves (USD) and designed explicitly to meet the EU's rigorous MiCA regulations, offering enhanced transparency and user protection within the European Economic Area (EEA).

, based in Malta, have both secured investment from Tether. Significantly, both issuers leverage Tether's new 

, designed to streamline the issuance and management of regulated digital assets. This backing signals strong confidence in these newcomers and their potential to foster compliant stablecoin adoption in Europe.

The stablecoin market is clearly diversifying. Gold-backed options like XAUT could increasingly appeal to those seeking stores of value outside the traditional USD-dominated financial system. Their stability profile offers a different kind of hedge compared to fiat-pegged tokens.

Simultaneously, MiCA-compliant, locally issued stablecoins like USDQ and USDR are poised to bridge traditional finance and crypto within Europe more effectively. Their regulatory clarity may foster greater trust among users and institutions, facilitating seamless digital euro and dollar transactions across the region.

At Bybit, our focus remains on empowering users. We're committed to providing a wide array of stablecoin options — from established leaders to innovative newcomers like XAUT, USDQ and USDR. By offering diverse assets and supporting regional compliance efforts, we aim to provide the tools users need to navigate the evolving digital economy confidently.

In a world where trust and flexibility are key, stablecoins must do more than just hold value — they must create value. At Bybit, we’re proud to be shaping that future.

Beginner

Stablecoins beyond USDT.png

Stablecoins beyond USDT: Exploring the potential of XAUT and newcomers USDQ & USDR

Elon Musk confirmed that X Money, a peer-to-peer payments feature for the X platform, will launch soon in a limited beta.

The S&P 500 rebounded in futures trading after Trump delayed a 50% EU tariff to July 9, easing trade tensions. Gold rose 0.08% to $3,317 per ounce on Tuesday, supported by a 0.20% drop in the US dollar and concerns over the growing US fiscal deficit. Gains were capped by weak domestic demand. The Coindesk Indices, which tracks the broader crypto market, fell 1.13%, with Bitcoin up 1.28% and Ether down 0.51%, in the past 24 hours. Trade these markets and more with up to 500x leverage on Bybit MT5 using this 

Today’s top performer is KAITO, up 7.2% after Huma Finance launched the $HUMA airdrop and staking program for Kaito ecosystem participants.

Kaito (KAITO), founded in 2022, is a $1,099/month AI-powered crypto search engine that aggregates data from web3 sources like Twitter, Discord, and forums, using advanced AI to deliver context-rich, sentiment-filtered insights. Huma Finance has 

 the $HUMA claim for top Kaito AI yappers and active ecosystem users, distributing 10bps of supply to each group. Eligibility requires past engagement and specific holdings, like 100+ sKAITO or YT KAITO. Staking is also live, offering rewards, feathers, and Vanguard status for long-term holders, with no lockup. Season 1 and 2 will distribute additional rewards over the next 3–6 months.

Check out the latest prices, charts, and data of 

, a peer-to-peer payments feature for the X platform, will launch soon in a limited beta. While it will allow debit card-linked transactions via Visa, there’s still no mention of crypto support—disappointing Dogecoin fans. Musk emphasized caution due to the involvement of users' savings.

With markets closed for Memorial Day on May 26, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded no activity. 

, allocating 10bps to the top ~500 Kaito yappers and 10bps to active users in the Kaito ecosystem. Eligibility requires holding 100+ sKAITO or YT KAITO and a linked SOL wallet. Two more drops are planned in Seasons 1 and 2, with rewards increasing to 12.5bps for yappers and 2.5bps for the ecosystem, plus extra for those staking $HUMA and $KAITO.

3.png

Elon Musk confirms X Money beta launch

Explore key similarities and differences in using technical analysis (TA) for stocks vs. crypto, and how to adapt popular indicators for crypto trading.

 (TA) is a significant component of modern trading. The term refers to a body of analysis methods and indicators used to forecast future market movements based on past price and volume data.

In the stock market, TA indicators like support and resistance levels, Bollinger Bands, chart patterns and moving averages have been used successfully for decades. Many crypto traders apply the same TA methods to predict the prices of cryptocurrencies. However, due to the inherent differences between stocks and crypto, applying these methods to crypto trade directly may not be as straightforward as it seems.

In this article, we’ll explore which common TA indicators might work for crypto, at least with certain adjustments, and which might mislead you when applied in the unique world of cryptocurrency.

 are among the key concepts in TA. A support level is a price point at which a downtrend is widely expected to halt, while a resistance level is a price point at which an asset’s uptrend is expected to fizzle out. Traders expend considerable effort to identify likely support and resistance levels for a stock or cryptocurrency, considering factors like the asset’s overbought and oversold indicators, orders clustered around a certain price level, previous highs and lows, institutional buying behavior and more.

In both the equities and crypto markets, support and resistance levels can provide valuable insights. These levels are often more predictable in the stock market thanks to its more established nature, higher liquidity and strong institutional participation. On the other hand, the crypto market’s 

, whale activity, lower liquidity and susceptibility to news and online hype can make estimated support and resistance levels less certain. This is particularly the case with lower-cap altcoins, whereas support and resistance levels are more clear-cut for the top assets, such as 

Despite the lower certainty of support and resistance in crypto trade, both markets conform to the general rules of estimating these levels since they are driven by basic human psychology.

For instance, the round-number bias is a significant determinant of support and resistance. It manifests itself in clear support and resistance points around round numbers, e.g., $70,000 for BTC. Since many investors, particularly less experienced retail players, often think in terms of round numbers — e.g., I’ll buy this asset when it hits $70,000 — there tends to be clear order clustering around these points. The flurry of orders at or very near round numbers tends to provide support or resistance to the price.

Although support and resistance levels apply to both stocks and crypto, use them more cautiously in crypto as they are less certain. Treat these levels for cryptocurrency TA more like support and resistance zones than precise point estimates. 

 is a major TA indicator represented by a trio of bands plotted on the price chart. The middle band shows the asset’s 20-period moving average (MA), while the upper and lower bands represent two standard deviations above and below the MA, respectively.

In both the stock and crypto markets, Bollinger Bands can inform the trader of several things. For instance, band squeezes may indicate periods of reduced volatility. According to the indicator’s inventor, John Bollinger, these periods are often followed by increased volatility, so a squeeze may signal an upcoming increase in market turbulence. This use of Bollinger Bands is highly applicable in both the stock and crypto markets, as they both have volatility cycles.

Another common use of the bands in both markets is estimating the likelihood of trend continuation. When the price breaks out of the upper or lower band, it signals that the uptrend or downtrend, respectively, will continue. However, the crypto market is more prone to false breakouts, particularly during periods of low volatility and significant whale trading activity.

Large players — institutional investors in equities and whales in crypto — often employ volume-based strategies. These can be analyzed using TA tools like 

 (VWAP) and various volume profile indicators.

VWAP shows the average price ratio to the asset’s total trading volume. Volume profiles are a family of TA indicators that typically show trading volume distributions across price levels.

Large-cap cryptocurrencies and stocks often demonstrate similarities when analyzed using volume-based indicators. For example, a crypto like Bitcoin and a stock like Apple (AAPL) might consolidate near their VWAP. Also, a breakout above VWAP and an increasing volume of trade may signal bullish whale or institutional activity and the continuation of the uptrend.

Chart patterns (head and shoulders, triangles, etc.)

TA patterns are visual formations in price charts that reflect trader psychology and help predict potential future price movements based on historical behavior. Many patterns are used to indicate trend reversals or continuation, as are bilateral patterns, which suggest price movements in either direction. Below are the popular or common patterns:

Bear in mind that the same pattern may be interpreted as either a reversal/continuation or a bilateral signal depending on contextual factors like volume activity and volatility.

High and well-structured institutional activity in the stock market makes patterns more likely to be completed. In contrast, patterns may often fail in the crypto market due to the effects of news and online hype, whale manipulation, lower liquidity, trading bots exploiting patterns early and the lack of defined institutional activity. Therefore, crypto traders are advised to wait for patterns to be confirmed in the expected direction and use supporting signals like volume data and other TA indicators.

 is a TA indicator that shows the average price over a set number of past periods. Its most basic form, the 

(SMA), is based on unweighted averaging of the past periods.

Traders use several more advanced averages — the 

 (EMA) is probably the most common. EMA is based on a weighting procedure that gives more weight to more recent data periods.

In the stock market, the 50-day and 200-day MAs are reasonably reliable trend indicators. Institutional and retail investors respect these indicators, using them to estimate trends and plan their moves. However, the MAs in crypto are often much less reliable due to factors like higher volatility, lower liquidity, more emotion- and hype-driven retail traders, lower institutional activity and the prevalence of short-term high-risk strategy followers. As a result, prices in crypto might move violently well outside of MAs, sometimes multiple times in a single day.

MAs may still provide sound signals to crypto traders, but they must be used with specific adjustments. Treating MAs in crypto as general support and resistance zones is advisable, as is employing higher time frames (e.g., daily or weekly) for better accuracy.

 (RSI) is a primary TA indicator used to assess whether an asset is overbought or oversold.

The RSI value oscillates between 0 and 100 — below 30 indicates an oversold asset and above 70 signals excessive buyer activity.

RSI works reasonably well in the stock market, particularly for large-cap, high-volume stocks, but the applicability of this indicator in the crypto market is less certain.

It’s not unusual for a cryptocurrency RSI to stay in an overbought or oversold territory for extended periods. For instance, a hype-driven altcoin may remain above 70 RSI for a long time, getting pumped and promoted continuously, attracting more and more gigaprofit-chasing individual traders.

Therefore, if you plan to use RSI for crypto trading, be sure to verify its signals using other indicators and consider the broader context.

Using established TA methods may significantly enhance your crypto trading. However, not all methods are highly applicable to the cryptocurrency market.

While you may be able to use support and resistance levels, Bollinger Bands, and volume-based indicators successfully in crypto with certain adaptations, chart patterns, MAs and RSI require more substantial adjustments. You might even omit them from your active analysis toolbox. In any case, combining multiple indicators and using other contextual data to inform your trading moves is always advisable.

stocks vs crypto technical analysis.png

Technical analysis in stocks vs. crypto: Key similarities and differences

Daily Bits

Merlin Chain, a premier Bitcoin Layer 2 protocol, has introduced its native token, $MERL, following an impressive growth to $3.6 billion in total value locked (TVL).

Daily Top Performer — Arkham Intelligence (ARKM)

Last week, the SPX index is down 3.05%, the downturn followed robust US economic data and hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials, solidifying expectations that interest rate cuts would be delayed, with some analysts predicting no rate cuts this year. The broader cryptocurrency market is down, with Bitcoin and Ether dropping by 0.31% and  0.19%, respectively in the past 24 hours.

Today’s outperformer is ARKM, which jumped 10.08% after Arkham Integrates Manta Pacific for Enhanced Blockchain Data Analysis and Monitoring.

Arkham Intelligence (ARKM), founded on 2020, one of the top-performing meme coins in March 2024, is a crypto intelligence platform that uses advanced techniques to link blockchain transactions to real-world identities, enhancing transparency and efficiency in the market. Arkham has announced that Manta Pacific is now integrated into its platform, enhancing its crypto intelligence capabilities. Users can now access and analyze data from Manta Pacific, including examining addresses and entities, monitoring DeFi activities like bridging, swaps, and lending, and setting custom alerts for on-chain activities. Additionally, Arkham provides tools to build custom dashboards for tracking entities, tokens, and DeFi protocols on Manta Pacific. This integration allows for detailed visualizations and real-time monitoring of significant transactions and on-chain volume, further extending Arkham's utility and scope in blockchain analysis.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

Merlin Chain, a premier Bitcoin Layer 2 protocol, has introduced its native token, $MERL, following an impressive growth to $3.6 billion in total value locked (TVL). The $MERL token operates on the BRC-20 standard and enhances the platform's capabilities by enabling governance, securing the network, and facilitating transaction fee payments and collateral within the ecosystem. The token's total supply is 2.1 billion, with distribution plans including a 20% airdrop to Merlin’s Seal event participants, sales to public and private investors, allocations for advisors and the core team, and reserves for community engagement and ecosystem growth. Merlin Chain aims to broaden Bitcoin's use through innovative Layer 2 solutions, with $MERL set to be listed on multiple major exchanges, beginning trading on April 19, 2024.

This week, Bitcoin and its related spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are at the center of attention due to the coincidental timing of the Bitcoin halving event on April 20, a date notable for its meme significance, especially with the largest U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF experiencing 69 straight days of inflows. Despite a recent slowdown in ETF inflows since their March peak, significant funds are still being directed into these products, with inflows showing signs of resurgence at the end of last week. However, there are concerns regarding the mainstream adoption of Bitcoin ETFs, as recent data suggests these products are not extensively held, likening their use among asset managers to "hot sauce"—sparingly used but widespread. This contrasts with the ongoing modest outflows from other products like the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC).

The tweet by Airdrop Official provides a list of alternative cross-chain bridges for cryptocurrency users seeking potential airdrops, beyond the commonly used Stargate. The options include Nexus Bridge (Hyperlane) for bridging assets like Injective and Ethereum, LiquidSwap & Lumio (Pontem) using LayerZero Tech for bridging to networks like Aptos, and deBridge for most EVM chains and Solana. XSwap, powered by Chainlink’s CCIP, offers swaps across EVM chains with a point system for users. Squid Router covers nearly all EVM chains, and Bungee Exchange utilizes Socket Protocol for cross-chain messaging. The tweet emphasizes focusing on transaction count, frequency, and volume to maximize potential airdrop benefits and advises maintaining a selective approach rather than attempting to farm multiple airdrops indiscriminately.

Merlin Chain Debuts $MERL Token to Boost Bitcoin Layer 2 Functionality

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