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Trump Pays UFC Fighters With USD1 Stablecoin Amid Emirati Ties Probe

World Liberty Financial paid UFC bonuses in USD1 while Congress is investigating the stablecoin and the company’s ownership structure.

By Zenz van der Wielen
• 2 min read
Trump Pays UFC Fighters With USD1 Stablecoin Amid Emirati Ties Probe

Key Takeaways

  • World Liberty Financial paid UFC fighters $250,000 in USD1 on June 14 during UFC Freedom 250 on the White House grounds.
  • USD1 is a dollar-pegged stablecoin from World Liberty Financial, backed by Treasury bonds and cash, and it runs on multiple blockchains.
  • The U.S. Congress is looking into World Liberty Financial’s ownership structure because of a UAE company with a 49% stake and possible security risks.

On June 14, World Liberty Financial, the crypto company co-founded by former President Trump, paid UFC fighters $250,000 (€216.100) in USD1 stablecoin during the UFC Freedom 250 event on the South Lawn of the White House. These performance bonuses, paid out in a dollar-pegged token, marked a rare mix of sports and crypto, but the story behind the stablecoin and the company goes well beyond just prize money.

UFC Freedom 250 and World Liberty Financial’s Role

During UFC Freedom 250, World Liberty Financial served as the main sponsor. The company contributed $250,000 (€216.100) in USD1 to the Performance of the Night bonuses, bringing the total payout per winner to $425,000 (€367.400). In addition, Crypto.com backed the Fight of the Night bonuses, which came to $400,000 (€345.800) per winner. In total, 14 fighters competed for about $1,65 million (€1,4 million) in bonuses, a record amount for a UFC event. The USD1 payout took place on White House grounds, which drew a lot of attention.

The Background of USD1 and the Emirati Connection

USD1 is a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial and pegged to the U.S. dollar, with reserves in U.S. Treasury bonds and cash. The token is available on multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Tron, and Solana, which boosts interoperability. Since launching in March 2025, USD1’s market value has grown to more than $5 billion (€4,3 billion).

But World Liberty Financial’s ownership structure is under close scrutiny from the U.S. Congress. A company from the United Arab Emirates, linked to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser, owns 49% of World Liberty Financial after investing about $500 million (€432 million). On top of that, another company tied to Tahnoon used USD1 to settle a $2 billion (€1,7 billion) investment in Binance. That led to a formal investigation into possible conflicts of interest and security risks, especially since a foreign government official owns nearly half of the crypto company of a sitting U.S. president.

Why This Matters for Europe’s Crypto Market and Regulation

The situation around World Liberty Financial and USD1 shows how geopolitical interests and regulation can shape the crypto market. For European crypto fans and policymakers, it may be a sign to stay alert to foreign investments and ownership structures in crypto projects that could affect national security and market integrity. It also highlights the growing role of stablecoins that operate across multiple blockchains, and the challenges that creates for oversight and compliance.

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