The Path to Steady Returns with USDT and BTC: How to Balance Security and Rewards in Gate's Yubi Bao?

When the cryptocurrency market enters a correction phase, Gate Earn provides investors with a defensive option to keep idle assets generating steady returns. In the current market environment, stablecoins like USDT offer an annualized yield of approximately 8% to 15%, while some popular market tokens can have significantly higher yields within Gate Earn.

The Current State of Cryptocurrency Yields

The crypto market at the beginning of 2026 shows signs of adjustment. Bitcoin prices have retreated from recent highs, trading volume has decreased, and investor sentiment has become more cautious. This market environment is often referred to as a “crypto bear market” phase. Under such conditions, more investors are choosing to allocate part of their funds into tools that can generate stable returns rather than simply holding coins and waiting.

According to Gate market data, as of January 14, 2026, the prices of mainstream crypto assets are approximately: BTC around $95,317.9, ETH around $3,321.6. While stablecoins offer relatively lower yields, they have less price volatility and are more suitable for risk-averse investors.

Yield Strategies for USDT and BTC

When we place USDT and BTC into Gate Earn, they demonstrate distinctly different yield characteristics and risk profiles.

As a stablecoin, USDT provides a stable baseline return. In Gate Earn, USDT typically offers a relatively stable annualized yield, around 8% to 15%. Although this yield may not be as impressive as some high-volatility tokens, it is especially valuable during market fluctuations, providing a “stabilizer” type of steady income for your portfolio.

BTC, as a primary crypto asset, usually offers more conservative yields but with higher growth potential. The annualized yield for BTC in Gate Earn is about 3.2%. While this yield is lower than USDT, considering BTC’s inherent potential for price appreciation, it actually offers dual benefits: earning interest from lending and potential value appreciation of BTC itself.

How Gate Earn Balances Safety and Yield

The core advantage of Gate Earn lies in its provision of a safe, flexible, and profitable asset management solution. Essentially, it is a crypto asset lending service. Investors deposit idle USDT or BTC, and the platform intelligently matches these with borrowers, allowing lenders to earn interest.

The product design fully considers user liquidity and operational convenience. Unlike many DeFi protocols, Gate Earn has no lock-up periods; users can deposit or withdraw funds at any time. This feature makes Earn especially suitable for investors who want to maintain liquidity while earning returns. Even if market conditions change, they can quickly adjust their asset allocation strategies.

To enhance security, the Gate platform employs multiple safety measures to protect user assets, including cold and hot wallet separation, multi-signature technology, and regular security audits. These measures provide an additional layer of protection for user funds, allowing investors to allocate assets to Gate Earn with greater peace of mind.

Yield Enhancement Strategies in the Gate Ecosystem

Within the Gate Earn ecosystem, GateToken (GT) plays a unique role in enhancing value. As of January 14, 2026, the trading price of GateToken (GT) is $10.67, with a market cap of approximately $1.07 billion.

Based on Gate market data and analysis, here is a neutral forecast for GT’s future price trend:

Investors can optimize Earn returns through diversified asset allocation strategies. Avoid putting all funds into a single asset; instead, allocate reasonably between stablecoins and high-yield tokens.

Stablecoins like USDT can provide stable baseline returns, while BTC and other main tokens may offer different growth potentials.

Auto-compounding is an effective strategy to maximize long-term gains. Reinvest daily earnings into Gate Earn, leveraging compound interest to accelerate asset growth. Especially during periods of higher yields, a reinvestment strategy can significantly speed up accumulation.

Operational Guide and Risk Management

Using Gate Earn to grow your crypto assets is relatively straightforward. First, create a Gate account and complete identity verification following standard KYC procedures. After verification, transfer USDT or other supported tokens into your Gate account. Gate supports various transfer methods, including transfers from other wallets or exchanges. Next, visit the “Earn” or “Gate Earn” section on the platform, select the assets you wish to lend. The platform will display the estimated annualized yield for that asset to help you make decisions. Once set up, the system will automatically match your assets with suitable borrowers, requiring no additional action on your part. Earnings are usually calculated daily and distributed, and you can view accumulated earnings or withdraw funds at any time.

Like all crypto investments, Gate Earn involves certain risks that should be viewed rationally and managed properly. Main risks include market volatility, platform security risks, and interest rate fluctuations. To manage these risks, investors should only invest funds they can afford to lose and consider diversifying across different platforms and asset classes. Set reasonable return expectations and avoid relying solely on historical high yields as guarantees for future returns.

As of January 14, 2026, data shows that GT holdings are relatively concentrated, with the largest address holding about 61.60% of the total GT supply. This structure may have unique impacts on market liquidity and price discovery mechanisms. A Gate Earn user who has been investing for half a year shared his allocation plan: 80% of funds in stablecoins for steady baseline returns; 20% in higher-yield token projects for additional growth potential. When the market enters the next cycle, those who keep their assets working through Gate Earn will have both protected their principal and prepared well for opportunities when the market warms up.