Bitcoin.com has partnered with Universal Digital Intl. Limited to add UAE-regulated USDU to its self-custodial wallet, giving users access to a dollar-backed stablecoin with monthly reserve attestations.
Bitcoin.com said USDU will be supported across its web and mobile wallet as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, allowing users to hold, send, and receive the stablecoin while keeping control of their private keys.
The integration brings USDU into a wallet used by millions of users globally and will also allow the token to be used for designated Bitcoin.com services. Bitcoin.com and Universal plan to work on USDU payments between users and merchants across the platform, while swap and buy-and-sell functions are expected once third-party providers add support.
USDU is issued by Universal Digital Intl. Limited, an Abu Dhabi Global Market-based company regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority for issuing Fiat-Referenced Tokens to professional clients. Universal is also registered with the Central Bank of the UAE as a Foreign Payment Token issuer under the Payment Token Services Regulation.
Each USDU is backed 1:1 by liquid U.S. dollar reserves held with regulated UAE banks, according to Universal. A third-party accounting firm independently attests the reserves each month, with the reports published by the issuer for public review.
USDU brings regulated dollar reserves into self-custody
Under the integration, Bitcoin.com Wallet users will retain their own private keys instead of handing custody of USDU to the wallet provider.
Self-custody means the user controls the keys required to move assets, while custodial platforms hold those keys on their customers’ behalf. A July self-custody explainer detailed how the model removes dependence on an exchange or another custodian but leaves users responsible for protecting their keys and recovery credentials.
Bitcoin.com CEO Corbin Fraser said the reserve structure was an important part of choosing USDU for the wallet.
“People shouldn’t need to be forensic accountants to know what backs the stablecoin they hold,” Fraser said. “USDU’s registration with the UAE central bank and monthly attested 1:1 reserves mean users can verify the backing instead of trusting a logo.”
The wallet will also carry educational material covering fiat-backed stablecoins, reserve attestations and regulated issuance through Bitcoin.com’s Learn-to-Earn content and a dedicated stablecoin education series.
Alongside holding and transfers, users will be able to receive USDU from supported jurisdictions for uses including saving, invoicing and moving funds between wallets or applications. Bitcoin.com said availability will depend on local rules, while additional functionality will depend on support from outside service providers.
Universal Senior Executive Officer Juha Viitala said combining USDU with a self-custodial wallet would allow users to maintain control of their assets while accessing information on the stablecoin’s reserve backing.
“Good standards only matter if people can actually use them,” Viitala said, adding that users will have access to details about USDU’s regulatory status, dollar reserves and independent attestations.
USDU already operates under the UAE payment token framework
Universal launched USDU in January as the first U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin registered with the Central Bank of the UAE as a Foreign Payment Token.
At the time, crypto.news previously reported that Universal had received authorization to issue the token under the UAE framework, with dollar reserves held at regulated banks including Emirates NBD, Mashreq and Mbank. Universal also partnered with Aquanow to distribute USDU into the country’s regulated digital asset market.
USDU’s permitted use in the UAE is narrower than a general-purpose domestic payment stablecoin. Under its current registration, USDU can be used as a means of payment for purchases of digital assets and digital asset derivatives in the country, according to Universal.
The token cannot be used for general payment purposes in mainland UAE, meaning the registration does not permit USDU to function as an unrestricted substitute for the dirham in domestic retail payments.
Universal is separately regulated by the FSRA within ADGM to issue a Fiat-Referenced Token to professional clients. The two regulatory positions cover different parts of its operations, with the CBUAE registration governing its status as a Foreign Payment Token and the FSRA authorization covering issuance within the financial free zone.
USDU’s Ethereum smart contract has also undergone an independent audit by CertiK, according to the companies, while distribution is handled by Aquanow, a virtual asset service provider licensed by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
USDU has also been linked with a dirham stablecoin
The Bitcoin.com agreement follows another distribution step for USDU earlier this year.
In May, AE Coin and Universal introduced a conversion rail connecting the dollar-backed USDU with AE Coin, a UAE dirham-backed stablecoin. The system was developed with support from Al Maryah Community Bank for institutional settlement, treasury operations and cross-border transactions.
Initial access to that framework was offered through regulated digital asset service providers Aquanow and Changer.ae. The companies said the system would allow eligible institutions to move between dollar and dirham-denominated payment tokens within the UAE’s regulated framework.
USDU’s role in the arrangement relies on its Foreign Payment Token status, while AE Coin operates as a locally approved dirham-backed stablecoin. Universal said at the time that the conversion infrastructure could later be used for additional services including trade finance and multi-currency settlement.
The UAE’s payment rules distinguish between foreign currency-backed tokens such as USDU and domestic payment arrangements denominated in dirhams. In May, Crypto.com also received a Stored Value Facilities license from the Central Bank, with its planned Dubai government payment service structured to settle transactions in UAE dirhams or approved dirham-backed stablecoins.
Bitcoin.com plans USDU payments and trading features
Bitcoin.com’s first stage will focus on custody and transfers through its wallet, with users able to store USDU on Ethereum and send the token directly to other supported addresses.
Payments will form another part of the rollout. Bitcoin.com said it will accept USDU for designated services and work toward allowing payments between users and merchants across its products, although the company did not provide a timetable for the additional payment functions.
Trading features will depend on integrations from third-party providers. Swaps and fiat buy-and-sell services are expected to follow when providers begin supporting USDU, and access will continue to vary depending on the user’s jurisdiction.
Universal said the underlying dollar reserves remain held 1:1 in liquid form with regulated UAE banks and are subject to monthly independent attestations. The issuer publishes the attestation reports for users to review directly.
