UFC Freedom 250 paid fighter bonuses in USD1, a stablecoin issued by the Trump-linked crypto firm World Liberty Financial, during a White House-hosted event.
USD1, created by the Trump family-affiliated World Liberty Financial, has shifted from a token once associated with restrictions in a DeFi lending pool to a payout currency used for fighters on the White House lawn.
The UFC confirmed on Friday that World Liberty Financial would sponsor a $250,000 performance bonus pool at UFC Freedom 250, a mixed martial arts event held on the South Lawn of the presidential residence on June 14, which coincided with President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Fighters across seven bouts received bonuses paid directly in USD1.
The event represents one of the most visible real-world applications of the USD1 stablecoin to date.
The publicity comes after earlier reporting by CoinDesk on borrowing activity that briefly affected sentiment around WLFI, World Liberty Financial’s governance token.
In that episode, the firm borrowed more than $75 million in stablecoins from the DeFi protocol Dolomite, whose co-founder Corey Caplan also advises WLFI. The borrowing was backed by 3 billion WLFI governance tokens and included USD1 deposits, which contributed to a spike in pool utilization.
At one point, utilization hit 93%, temporarily preventing retail lenders from withdrawing funds. WLFI later repaid $25 million of the position and then minted an additional $25 million in USD1 days later, actively managing supply throughout April. The company did not respond to requests for comment.
World Liberty Financial is also involved in legal disputes with crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, who claims his WLFI holdings were improperly frozen, while WLFI has filed a defamation countersuit.
Some observers argue the practical impact of the UFC activation is primarily promotional.
“Paying the fighters in USD1 would function the same as issuing a standard cash payment,” said Todd Phillips of the Klaros Group. “The real value is marketing—publicly demonstrating USD1 usage in a high-profile UFC and White House setting.”
USD1’s circulating supply has grown to around $4.6 billion, up from $3.3 billion at the start of the year.
The project has also submitted an application for a banking license with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.
Public financial disclosures indicate President Trump holds more than $50 million tied to World Liberty Financial. The administration maintains there is no conflict of interest, stating that his assets are managed through a trust overseen by his children.
