A UFC event held on the White House lawn over the weekend sparked debate over the growing intersection of crypto, politics and sports after fighter bonuses were paid in USD1 – the stablecoin issued by the Trump family-backed crypto venture World Liberty Financial.
White House UFC Event Sparks Debate over Trump-Linked Stablecoin
15 June 2026 - 19:49 CEST
By Jona Jaupi
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a steady value, typically by being pegged 1:1 to a fiat currency, most typically the US dollar. USD1 is currently the fifth-largest stablecoin, with a market capitalization of more than $4.4bn, according to DeFiLlama data.
The UFC said World Liberty Financial sponsored a $250,000 bonus pool at UFC Freedom 250, which took place on the South Lawn of the White House on 14 Jun. Fighters across seven matches received their bonuses in USD1.
An industry divided
What stands out is not the size of the payout, but where it happened. Crypto firms have long sponsored sporting events and athletes, yet it is rare for a financial product linked to a sitting president's family to be showcased at the White House.
Conor Kenny, founder of crypto creator relations agency Fluence Management, described the arrangement in a post on X as "one of the most unusual intersections yet of crypto, combat sports, and US political branding."
The move has divided opinion in the crypto industry, with many supporters viewing it as a sign of growing adoption, and critics arguing that it raises ethical concerns and questions about conflicts of interest.
Beyond crypto
The criticism has extended beyond crypto circles. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) denounced the arrangement on X, calling it "corruption on full display on the White House lawn."
World Liberty Financial's disclosures state that President Donald Trump and his family are not founders, officers, directors or operators of the project. However, DT Marks DEFI LLC, an entity affiliated with Trump and certain members of his family, entered into agreements to promote the crypto venture and license the Trump family's names and likenesses. In return, DT Marks received 22.5bn WLFI governance tokens and rights to 75% of the protocol's net revenues after certain deductions.
WLFI, World Liberty Financial's governance token, is up about 4% over the previous 24 hours at around $0.0616 on 15 Jun, according to CoinGecko data, after rising nearly 5% earlier in the day. The token has a market capitalization of around $2bn.
An April 2025 letter to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA), which raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving Trump's ties to World Liberty Financial, described DT Marks as "an entity affiliated with Donald J. Trump and certain of his family members."
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle reportedly denied there was a conflict of interest, saying President Trump's assets are held in a trust managed by his children, The Guardian reported. "The Fake News’ continued attempts to fabricate conflicts of interest are irresponsible and reinforce the public's distrust in what they read," Ingle said.
The event took place as ethics and conflict-of-interest concerns continue to shape debate around the CLARITY Act, a bill currently before Congress that would establish a regulatory framework for digital assets in the US. Some Democratic lawmakers have pushed for stronger safeguards governing public officials' involvement in crypto ventures, with President Trump's ties to World Liberty Financial emerging as a recurring point of criticism.
Stablecoin market growth
The debate comes as stablecoins continue to become a bigger part of the financial system. The total stablecoin market has grown to about $315bn, according to DeFiLlama data.
This follows banks, payment companies and crypto firms expanding their presence in the sector. Tether's USDT stablecoin currently holds the largest market share at nearly 60%, while Circle's USD Coin (USDC) ranks as the second largest circulating stablecoin by market capitalization.
The growth also comes as lawmakers in Washington continue debating how stablecoins should be regulated. This follows the GENIUS Act, signed into law in 2025, establishing the first federal framework for payment stablecoins in the US. That bill aimed to set some standards around reserves, oversight and consumer protections.
