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World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin funded a $250,000 performance bonus pool at UFC Freedom 250, held on the White House South Lawn on June 14.
The mixed martial arts event took place on President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday. Fighters across seven matches received bonuses in USD1, a dollar-backed cryptocurrency issued by the Trump family-linked company.
World Liberty Financial also served as an official sponsor of the event. The arrangement placed the company’s stablecoin before a large sports audience while raising questions about the promotion of a Trump-linked business on government property.
The UFC announced World Liberty Financial as the presenting partner of the $250,000 Performance of the Night bonus pool. The official broadcast also carried a message promoting USD1 as a digital dollar available through major exchanges.
“Tonight’s $250,000 performance bonus in USD1 is presented by World Liberty Financial,” a commentator said during the broadcast. The message added that users could send money faster and at a lower cost through the stablecoin.
USD1 tracks the value of the US dollar and is backed by reserve assets. Its circulating supply has increased from about $3.3 billion at the start of 2026 to around $4.6 billion.
The company has also applied for a banking license from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. World Liberty Financial described the UFC partnership as part of its effort to expand the use of USD1 in payments.
Zach Witkoff, the company’s Chief Executive, said the firm views digital assets as part of the future of financial services. He also said the UFC partnership connected the stablecoin with a sports organization known for attracting a large global audience.
The use of USD1 at the White House event drew criticism from political figures who questioned whether the arrangement mixed public office with private business interests.
California Governor Gavin Newsom said the White House had been used to ‘promote a company the President owns stock in’ and ‘push Trump crypto.’ His comments raised doubts about whether the event gave World Liberty Financial a commercial advantage.
Crypto policy expert Todd Phillips also questioned the marketing value of the payments. “Paying the fighters in the USD1 stablecoin would have the same economic function as writing them a check,” he said.
Phillips added that announcing the payments appeared designed to tell viewers that USD1 was linked to both the UFC and the White House. His comments focused on the promotional value rather than the payment method itself.
A White House spokesperson rejected claims of a conflict of interest. Davis Ingle said Trump’s assets were held in a trust managed by his children. He also accused critics and news organizations of trying to create a conflict where the administration says none exists.
Trump’s financial disclosure lists his stake in World Liberty Financial at more than $50 million. His family holds a controlling interest in the crypto venture, which was formed with members of the Witkoff family.
The UFC sponsorship comes as World Liberty Financial faces other business and legal questions. The company is involved in litigation with crypto investor Justin Sun over frozen WLFI governance tokens. Sun alleges the company restricted access to his holdings, while World Liberty Financial has filed a defamation claim against him.
The company also faced questions over a borrowing position on the Dolomite lending platform. World Liberty Financial used WLFI tokens as collateral while borrowing more than $75 million in stablecoins.
That activity pushed a USD1 lending pool to about 93% utilization. Some depositors could not immediately withdraw their funds until part of the loan was repaid. The company later repaid $25 million and issued another $25 million in USD1.
Moreover, the UFC bonus payments now mark one of USD1’s most public uses. They also place the stablecoin at the center of questions over political office, sports sponsorship and the Trump family’s growing crypto business.
Also Read: Crypto Market Update: World Liberty Warns of Coordinated Attack as USD1 Dips Below Peg
