Universal Digital Intl Limited’s Stablecoin, USDU, USD-backed stablecoin is ADGM’s first foreign payment token regulated by the Abu Dhabi Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) and launched on global cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com.
According to Universal, the issuer of USDU, this is part of an expansion that will enable access to regulated USD-settled stablecoins across digital asset markets. At the launch of USDU, the issuer noted that USDU is built to connect with international digital asset markets beyond the UAE, allowing institutions to move regulated digital value between global platforms, where local regulations allow.
“This listing marks a meaningful step toward strengthening institutional trust and promoting reliable, scalable infrastructure for the global digital asset market,” Universal said in a post on LinkedIn.
In January 2026, Universal issued regulated USDU. It is a fiat reference token that can cater to professional customers and is also a foreign payment token issuer of the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates.
The fully USD-backed stablecoin USDU, a registered foreign payments token, can be used for domestic payments for digital assets and digital asset derivatives. Of course, USDU cannot be used for payments within the UAE, as the UAE Central Bank only considers AED-backed stablecoins to be legal tender.
Unlike Circle’s USDC, which is ADGM-approved and used only as a fiat reference token available to professional clients, USDU is available to the general public across the UAE. This is something Tether has been trying to do since applying for a license two years ago.
Pursuant to the UAE Central Bank PTSR, payments for digital assets and digital asset derivatives in the UAE can only be made in fiat currency or registered foreign payment tokens, making the use of registered tokens essential for compliant operation.
