Core Definition and Technology
Ondo US Dollar Yield (USDY) is a tokenized note secured by short-term US Treasuries and bank demand deposits, designed to combine the accessibility of a stablecoin with high-quality, US dollar-denominated yield and is accessible to non-US individual and institutional investors. USDY operates on the Ethereum platform as an ERC-20 token.
USDY is not classified as a traditional stablecoin; instead, it is a tokenized secured note. USDY is a tokenized note formerly issued by Ondo USDY LLC, which as of December 15, 2025 has been folded into the Ondo Global Markets umbrella, and depending on the issuance date, USDY may be secured by either short-term US Treasuries, shares of iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF, or bank demand deposits.
Blockchain Architecture and Technical Implementation
Each USDY token is backed by short-term U.S. Treasury securities and demand deposits held by qualified custodians, the yield generated from these underlying assets automatically accrues to the token value over time, blockchain technology makes these traditional financial assets accessible to crypto investors without requiring access to traditional brokerage accounts, and USDY can be redeemed for the underlying value of the Treasuries and deposits it represents, providing liquidity and ensuring its value remains tied to real-world assets.
USDY accrues yield daily, which means holders can earn yield everyday whether staking it, borrowing or lending it, pledging it as collateral, or just holding it within a wallet, and because USDY accrues yield daily, the price of USDY increases over time.
Token Structure and Variants
USDY comes in two versions: an "accumulating" version (USDY) whose per-token price increases as yield accrues, and a "rebasing" version (rUSDY) whose price remains at US$1.00, and whereas the price of USDY tokens increases as the value of the underlying assets increase, with rUSDY you simply receive more rUSDY in your wallet; in effect the yield on the underlying assets accrues in the form of additional rUSDY tokens.
Primary Use Cases and Applications
One of the primary real-world applications of USDY is in building the next generation of financial infrastructure, by leveraging blockchain technology, USDY aims to improve market efficiency, transparency, and accessibility, which can be particularly beneficial for individuals and institutions seeking more efficient ways to manage and grow their financial assets.
In the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, USDY is highly adaptable, it can be utilized within protocols such as Aave and Compound for lending and borrowing, and it is available for trading on decentralized exchanges like Uniswap, 1inch and Camelot, which integration expands its utility across a variety of DeFi platforms, enhancing liquidity and accessibility.
USDY is available in over 100 countries and supported by the most widely-used blockchains and DeFi projects globally, including Solana, Ethereum, Aptos, Sui, Mantle, Mantra, and Noble.
Founding Team and Project History
Ondo US Dollar Yield emerges from the innovative minds of Nathan Allman and Ian De Bode, Nathan Allman, the CEO and founder of Ondo Finance, brings a wealth of experience in financial technology and blockchain, his leadership and vision have been pivotal in shaping the strategic direction of Ondo Finance and the creation of USDY, and Ian De Bode, a key team member, complements this with his expertise, contributing significantly to the project's development and operational execution.
Ondo Finance, led by CEO and founder Nathan Allman, launched the Ondo US Dollar Yield (USDY) token in August 2023.
Tokenomics and Supply Mechanics
The supply of USDY is elastic and directly tied to demand, new tokens are minted when investors deposit funds, and tokens are burned when investors redeem them, ensuring that each USDY in circulation is fully backed by underlying assets.
Ondo US Dollar Yield has a current supply of 624,104,123.7809083 with 623,652,164.30200621 in circulation, and the current circulating supply of Ondo US Dollar Yield is 624 million.
When Ondo US Dollar Yield launched, it followed a unique distribution model different from typical cryptocurrency token launches: instead of an Initial Coin Offering (ICO) or airdrop, USDY tokens were made available through direct purchases, and investors could acquire USDY by depositing funds with Ondo Finance, which would then create new tokens backed by the corresponding amount of Treasury bills and deposits.
Consensus Mechanism and Network Security
Unlike many cryptocurrencies, Ondo US Dollar Yield (USDY) does not offer traditional staking or mining mechanisms because of its fundamentally different structure: USDY doesn't require conventional staking as seen in Proof-of-Stake blockchains.
The backing of USDY is in the form of a perfected, first-priority security interest that is held USDY's collateral agent for the benefit of token holders, USDY is also designed for bankruptcy remoteness and over-collateralized (i.e. the assets of the USDY issuer exceed its liabilities), with third-party reserve attestations published daily for transparency, and these protections help safeguard the assets during unlikely events like bankruptcy, insolvency or operational failure.
Key Partnerships and Ecosystem Integrations
USDY expanded its reach in April 2025, when it became available on multiple blockchain networks such as Arbitrum, Sui, Aptos, Mantle Network, Plume Network, and Noble, and this significant multichain compatibility sets USDY apart from many other stablecoins, providing users with unparalleled flexibility and reach.
The most popular exchange to buy and trade Ondo US Dollar Yield is Momentum, where the most active trading pair USDY/USDC has a trading volume of $90,453.17 in the last 24 hours, and other popular options include Bybit and Orca.
Competitive Advantages and Unique Value Proposition
Unlike traditional stablecoins, USDY allows holders to earn the majority of the yield from its backing assets. Stablecoins are designed to hold a stable value but don't pay yield, meaning holders lose purchasing power due to inflation on their idle balances, but USDY accrues daily yield derived from the US Treasuries that back it, providing protections against inflation and market volatility.
The yield generated by USDY is directly linked to short-term U.S. Treasury rates, providing transparency about expected returns, which contrasts with many DeFi yields that can be highly variable and sometimes unsustainable.
USDY places significant emphasis on regulatory compliance, it is specifically designed to align with securities laws, which may result in a regulatory environment that differs from other stablecoins like USDT, and this focus on compliance enhances its credibility and appeal for users who prioritize legal assurances and transparency.
Development Activity and Milestones
On March 3, 2025, USDY achieved a significant milestone by exceeding $1 billion in total value locked (TVL), demonstrating the token's growing popularity and adoption as a reliable, institutional-grade, tokenized representation of US Treasuries.
By August 2024, USDY expanded its availability to Arbitrum, allowing users in this ecosystem to benefit from its yield-generating capabilities, highlighting Ondo Finance's dedication to offering more DeFi infrastructure for USDY.
Market Position
The current CoinMarketCap ranking is #204, with a live market cap of $705,724,216 USD. The live Ondo US Dollar Yield price today is $1.12 USD with a 24-hour trading volume of $1,392,798 USD.
Sources:
- https://www.coingecko.com/en/coins/ondo-us-dollar-yield
- https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/ondo-us-dollar-yield/
- https://www.coinbase.com/price/ondo-us-dollar-yield
- https://docs.ondo.finance/general-access-products/usdy/basics
- https://www.bilira.co/en/learn-and-earn/what-is-usdy
- https://www.cryptohopper.com/currencies/detail?currency=USDY
- https://www.myetherwallet.com/blog/stablecoins-what-is-usdy-by-ondo/
- https://readi.fi/asset/stablecoin-usdy-ondo-us-dollar-yield-token-by-ondo-finance/
- https://docs.ondo.finance/general-access-products/usdy/comparison-stablecoins