On May 22, 2025, Bitcoin surged past $110,000, marking a historic milestone and sending shockwaves through the crypto world. But while Bitcoin stole the headlines, a new player quietly took center stage: USD1, a dollar-pegged stablecoin launched by World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a DeFi project backed by the Trump family. After Binance announced support for USD1 trading pairs, a wave of excitement swept across the BNB Chain ecosystem. Within 24 hours, related tokens like BUILDon skyrocketed 480%, while meme coin usd1doge surged tenfold. The market wasn’t just reacting—it was celebrating.
Binance Lights the Fuse: USD1 Trading Pair Sparks Surge
At 8 PM on May 22, Binance officially launched trading for USD1, becoming the third major exchange—after HTX and MEXC—to list the asset. The announcement acted as a catalyst, triggering an immediate rally in USD1-linked tokens.
BUILDon (ticker: B), available on Binance Alpha, was among the first to explode. It surged 480% within six hours and posted a daily gain of 192%, pushing its market cap above $220 million—a new all-time high. Enthusiastic traders flooded community channels with messages like: “USD1 might just replace FDUSD as Binance’s favorite stablecoin!”
The momentum extended far beyond BUILDon. Meme coin usd1doge rocketed 1,000% in 24 hours, briefly touching a $2 million market cap before settling around $730,000. Another standout, EAGLE, the first Ethereum-based token tied to USD1, surged up to 1,067% intraday with a peak valuation of $3.74 million. Even established projects like LISTA and STO saw strong gains of 46.62% and 20% respectively, signaling broad confidence in both the "WLFI narrative" and Binance-affiliated ecosystems.
The root cause? Binance’s endorsement. Launched in March 2025, USD1 is a 1:1 USD-backed stablecoin fully collateralized by short-term U.S. Treasuries and dollar deposits, custodied by BitGo Trust Company. Backed by high-profile figures including Eric Trump, USD1 grew from a $128 million market cap to over $2.1 billion in just two months—ranking it among the top seven global stablecoins. Crucially, 90% of its circulation occurs on BNB Chain, making Binance’s support a game-changer for ecosystem growth.
The Heat Behind the Hype: Trump Influence Meets Capital Inflows
USD1’s rapid ascent isn’t just about celebrity endorsement—it’s powered by real capital and strategic positioning. In early May, Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX funneled $2 billion into Binance using USD1, one of the largest institutional inflows in recent memory. CZ (Changpeng Zhao), Binance’s founder, confirmed that the entire transaction was settled in USD1—not via speculative TRUMP meme coins—lending credibility to the stablecoin’s utility and reinforcing trust in its infrastructure.
But there’s more beneath the surface. Reports from The Wall Street Journal revealed that Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, visited the UAE a month before Trump’s inauguration to discuss regional matters at a crypto-focused summit. His son, Zach Witkoff, co-founder of WLFI, has been actively promoting the project across global markets. He reportedly referred to Donald Trump as the “Godfather” of their vision and emphasized how WLFI would leverage America’s increasingly favorable crypto regulations.
Zach also traveled to Pakistan, where he met senior officials to propose tokenizing the country’s rare earth mineral trade using blockchain technology. Weeks later, these same officials engaged in ceasefire talks with India under U.S. mediation—an intriguing overlap that sparked speculation about deeper geopolitical ties. While WLFI clarified that CZ is merely a personal friend of Zach’s and not an official intermediary, his involvement in facilitating some international outreach underscores the interconnected nature of this emerging ecosystem.
Additionally, WLFI has explored partnerships with Gulf-region firms interested in purchasing USD1 tokens—a move some interpret as a pathway to smoother U.S. market access, though WLFI officially denies any quid pro quo arrangements.
This convergence of finance, politics, and technology reveals USD1’s ambition: not just to be another stablecoin, but a bridge between decentralized finance and global power structures.
Ecosystem Mania: Alpha Opportunities or Speculative Bubbles?
The launch of USD1 trading pairs didn’t just boost prices—it created a feeding frenzy for early movers seeking alpha.
Take BUILDon, for example. Originally launched fairly on Four.meme as a lighthearted mascot for BSC development culture, it gained serious traction after WLFI announced plans to integrate USD1 into its ecosystem and purchase B tokens. On PancakeSwap, BUILDon recorded $220 million in weekly trading volume and averaged over 27,000 trades per day—clear signs of intense market interest.
Other protocols integrated with USD1 also reaped rewards:
- Lista DAO’s LISTA token rose 46.62% after launching USD1Vault, the first lending product on BNB Chain to support USD1.
- StakeStone’s STO climbed 20% following news of cross-chain yield integration with USD1, enhancing capital efficiency for users.
These integrations aren’t just price pumps—they represent tangible utility expansion for USD1 within DeFi.
Yet volatility looms large. Both usd1doge and EAGLE experienced sharp pullbacks after their meteoric rises, highlighting the speculative nature of many associated tokens.
As one trader noted: “This feels like 2017 all over again—everyone’s chasing the next 10x.” Others warn of overheating: “These rallies can reverse fast. Don’t FOMO at the top.”
Indeed, while opportunities exist, sustainability remains unproven.
Beyond Payments: Building a Full-Fledged Crypto Ecosystem
USD1’s vision extends well beyond being a transactional tool. It’s rapidly evolving into a core pillar of a broader financial stack.
To date, USD1 has integrated with over ten DeFi protocols across major chains:
- Venus Protocol for yield generation
- Meson Finance for cross-chain swaps
- Pyth Network for real-time price feeds
In consumer applications, adoption is accelerating:
- Wallets like TokenPocket and HOT Wallet now support USD1
- Web3 travel platform Umy allows hotel bookings at over a million locations worldwide using USD1
- Payment network Pundi X has fully onboarded the stablecoin for retail use
WLFI co-founder Zach Witkoff envisions USD1 as a secure, efficient solution for institutional cross-border payments—with future integration into traditional POS systems on the roadmap.
This mirrors the early growth trajectories of USDT and USDC. But surpassing them requires more than momentum—it demands transparency, resilience, and regulatory clarity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is USD1?
A: USD1 is a dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial (WLFI), backed 1:1 by U.S. Treasuries and cash deposits, primarily circulating on BNB Chain.
Q: Who backs USD1?
A: The project is associated with the Trump family through Eric Trump (co-founder) and Zach Witkoff (founder), whose father serves as a key political advisor.
Q: Is USD1 regulated?
A: While operating under U.S.-aligned custodians like BitGo Trust Company, full regulatory approval status remains evolving amid ongoing scrutiny of politically linked financial instruments.
Q: Why did Binance list USD1?
A: Strategic alignment with growing institutional demand, strong reserve backing, and potential to strengthen BNB Chain’s native stablecoin ecosystem likely influenced the decision.
Q: Are USD1-related tokens good investments?
A: They carry high risk due to speculative volatility. While short-term gains have occurred, long-term value depends on actual adoption and protocol fundamentals.
Q: Can USD1 challenge USDT or USDC?
A: It has early momentum and elite backing, but faces hurdles including trust verification, scalability, and geopolitical sensitivity.
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Final Thoughts: A New Chapter in Crypto Narratives
USD1’s rise marks more than a technical milestone—it represents a fusion of capital, celebrity influence, and geopolitical strategy playing out on-chain. From BUILDon’s explosive rally to LISTA and STO gaining traction, investor appetite for "Trump-linked" crypto narratives is undeniable.
Yet beneath the frenzy lies a critical question: Can USD1 transition from viral sensation to foundational infrastructure?
Its multi-chain deployment via Chainlink’s CCIP protocol—including native presence on Tron thanks to $75 million in funding from Sun Yuchen (Justin Sun)—suggests serious technical ambition. But lasting success will depend on transparency, sustained utility, and neutrality in an increasingly polarized world.
For now, one thing is clear: this crypto feast has only just begun—and whether it ends in feast or famine may depend on how well USD1 balances innovation with integrity.
Core Keywords: USD1, Binance, stablecoin, Trump crypto, WLFI, BNB Chain, DeFi ecosystem