Trump Crypto Firm Paid UFC Bonuses in USD1 on White House Lawn

On June 14, World Liberty Financial contributed $250,000 in USD1 stablecoin to Performance of the Night bonuses at UFC Freedom 250 on the South Lawn of the White House. The additional funds raised those individual Performance of the Night payouts to $425,000. Crypto.com funded the Fight of the Night awards, which were $400,000 each. Fourteen fighters competed for about $1.65 million in bonuses, a UFC record for a single card, and winners accepted their payments in USD1 on the South Lawn.

USD1 is a dollar-pegged stablecoin that the company says is backed by U.S. Treasury securities and cash equivalents. The token launched in March 2025 and is available on multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, BNB Chain, Tron and Solana. Its market capitalization has exceeded $5 billion.

World Liberty Financial was co-founded by Donald Trump in 2024. Lawmakers have opened a formal House inquiry into the company after a firm linked to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan reportedly bought a 49 percent stake for about $500 million. Congressional filings and investigator materials indicate a separate company tied to Sheikh Tahnoon used USD1 to settle a $2 billion investment in Binance.

The House probe is examining ownership and governance of World Liberty Financial, the composition and location of USD1 reserve assets, and where value flows when USD1 transfers clear. Investigators are seeking documents and testimony to determine who benefits from transfers of the stablecoin and what disclosures exist about the companys foreign investments.

World Liberty Financial has pursued corporate partnerships and public sponsorships since introducing USD1, including the UFC card on the South Lawn. The inquiry into the companys ownership and the stablecoins use is ongoing.