# Unfreeze

The issuer removing an address from its blacklist so that the address can move its stablecoins again.

Canonical: https://achivx.org/glossary/unfreeze/
Updated: 2026-11-01

An unfreeze reverses a freeze: the issuer removes an address from its blacklist, so the address can transfer its tokens again. In Tether's USDT contract on Ethereum this is the owner-only removeBlackList function, which clears the address's blacklist flag. In Circle's USDC contract the 'blacklister' role calls unBlacklist, which emits an UnBlacklisted event. Circle's terms state that its freezes may be temporary or permanent.

## What the sources say

| Source | Quote | Link |
|---|---|---|
| TetherToken source: removeBlackList | "function removeBlackList (address _clearedUser) public onlyOwner { isBlackListed[_clearedUser] = false; RemovedBlackList(_clearedUser); }" | [Etherscan](https://etherscan.io/address/0xdac17f958d2ee523a2206206994597c13d831ec7#code) |
| Circle Blacklistable.sol: unBlacklist | "@notice Removes account from blacklist." | [GitHub](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/circlefin/stablecoin-evm/master/contracts/v1/Blacklistable.sol) |
| Circle USDC terms: temporary or permanent freeze | "freeze associated USDC (temporarily or permanently)" | [circle.com](https://www.circle.com/legal/usdc-terms) |

## Note on sources

No regulator text on unfreezing was used. The definition rests on the USDT and USDC contracts and Circle's terms.

## Related terms

- [Freeze (address freeze)](/glossary/freeze/)
- [Blacklist (issuer blacklist)](/glossary/blacklist/)
- [Seizure](/glossary/seizure/)

## See also

- Data: [Stablecoin freezes and seizures by issuer](/data/freezes-and-seizures/)
- Explainer: [Issuer freezes](https://achivx.com/academy/guides/issuer-freezes.html)
- Review: [revain.org/coins/usdt/](https://revain.org/coins/usdt/)
- Review: [revain.org/coins/usdc/](https://revain.org/coins/usdc/)

Checked against the sources on 2026-11-01.

## revain.org
- https://revain.org/coins/usdt/
- https://revain.org/coins/usdc/

## Sources
- https://etherscan.io/address/0xdac17f958d2ee523a2206206994597c13d831ec7#code
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/circlefin/stablecoin-evm/master/contracts/v1/Blacklistable.sol
- https://www.circle.com/legal/usdc-terms