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USDD (Decentralized USD) Cryptocurrency Overview
Core Definition and Technology
USDD, which stands for Decentralized USD, is an algorithmic stablecoin issued by the TRON DAO Reserve and designed to maintain a 1:1 peg with the US dollar. USDD is a stablecoin issued by the TRON DAO Reserve that is pegged to the value of the US dollar and aims to provide a reliable, decentralized cryptocurrency for blockchain transactions.
Blockchain Architecture and Technical Infrastructure
Built on the TRON network, USDD benefits from high-speed transactions and the robust security of the Layer-1 blockchain. The stablecoin operates across multiple blockchain networks, including TRON, Ethereum, and BNB Chain, making it accessible to users across different ecosystems. USDD is issued and redeemed via smart contracts on TRON, which allows for fast and secure transactions, as well as transparent and verifiable records of USDD issuance and redemption.
Stability Mechanism and Collateralization
Unlike traditional stablecoins that rely solely on fiat currency reserves held in banks, USDD employs a sophisticated combination of over-collateralization and algorithmic mechanisms to maintain its stability. USDD is an over-collateralized decentralized stablecoin, designed to offer a stable value to its users by being pegged to the U.S. dollar at a 1:1 ratio.
USDD has a minimum collateralization ratio of 120% and is backed by a basket of crypto assets including BTC, TRX, USDT and more. The total value of collateralized assets is significantly higher than that of USDD in circulation with the collateralization ratio at 204.5% at the time of writing this report, which is well above the minimum collateralization ratio of 120%.
Peg Stability Module
Its Peg Stability Module (PSM) enables near-zero slippage swaps with other stablecoins (e.g., USDT, USDC) to reinforce the peg. For regular users, USDD access is facilitated through the Peg Stability Module, which enables 1:1 swaps between USDD and other established stablecoins like USDT, USDC, TUSD, and USDJ. This mechanism helps maintain price stability by providing direct arbitrage opportunities when USDD deviates from its dollar peg. The PSM functions as a critical stabilization tool, ensuring that users can seamlessly exchange USDD for other dollar-pegged assets without experiencing slippage.
Mint-and-Burn Mechanism
When USDD trades below $1, users can burn 1 USDD to receive $1 worth of TRX, creating arbitrage opportunities that help restore the peg. Conversely, when USDD trades above $1, users can burn $1 worth of TRX to mint 1 USDD, increasing supply to bring the price down.
Primary Use Cases and Applications
USDD can be used for payments, trading, staking and as a value store. USDD participates in various decentralized finance applications, particularly within the TRON ecosystem. Users can stake USDD in liquidity pools, participate in yield farming activities, and use it as collateral in lending protocols.
Like other stablecoins, USDD enables fast and low-cost cross-border transfers without the delays and fees associated with traditional banking systems. However, its adoption for remittances and international payments remains limited compared to more established alternatives.
The primary use case of USDD is to allow holders of TRX to gain liquidity for their holdings without having to sell the underlying asset. This is facilitated by the three TRX vaults that allow minting of USDD, namely TRX-A, TRX-B and TRX-C.
Founding Team and Project History
The person behind USDD crypto, Chinese entrepreneur Justin Sun, is also TRON Network's founder. TRON was created in 2017 in China, and the TRON token's Initial Coin Offering there took place shortly before the country banned ICOs. After creating this blockchain, Sun also started USDD. Since graduating with a BA in History from Peking University and an MA in Political Economy from the University of Pennsylvania, Sun has made quite a name for himself. Sun made headlines in 2019 when he won an auction lunch with investor Warren Buffett, with the crypto entrepreneur spending over $4.5 million to be the highest bidder.
Launched on May 5, 2022, by Justin Sun, the founder of the TRON blockchain, USDD represents what its creators describe as the "third era of stablecoins." The TDR includes prominent blockchain industry participants such as Alameda Research, Amber, Ankr, Mirana, Multichain, FalconX, TPS Capital, Wintermute, and Poloniex, bringing institutional expertise to USDD's governance.
Governance Structure
Governance is managed by the TRON DAO, though critics note centralization risks tied to Justin Sun's influence. The TRON DAO Reserve (TDR) serves as the primary custodian and governing body for USDD, responsible for maintaining the stablecoin's value and implementing monetary policies.
Tokenomics
Supply Metrics
Based on current market data, USDD has a market capitalization of approximately $1.09 billion with an available supply of approximately 1.09 billion tokens and a total supply of approximately 1.10 billion tokens.
$2 billion worth of USDD has been authorized, while $1.25 billion worth of coins remain authorized but not yet issued.
Distribution and Issuance
USDD is not mined in the traditional sense. Instead, its issuance is controlled by the TRON DAO Reserve. The supply of USDD is adjusted algorithmically to maintain its peg to the US dollar. This process involves minting new USDD tokens when demand increases and burning them when demand decreases.
Unlike Terra's system, USDD minting through TRX burning is currently restricted to approved members of the TRON DAO Reserve, including exchanges and institutional partners such as Poloniex, Amber Group, Ankr, Mirana Ventures, and others.
Yield and Incentive Mechanisms
One of USDD's initially distinctive features was its offering of high yields, with APY rates reaching 30% at launch. While these rates have since been reduced as part of the platform's maturation, USDD continues to offer yield opportunities through various DeFi protocols and staking mechanisms.
The USDD interest rate was set at 30% at launch, but has since been reduced with increased adoption of the stablecoin.
Consensus Mechanism and Network Security
As a decentralized stablecoin, minting, redemption and management of USDD do not require the intervention or approval of any centralized entities, ensuring a tamper-proof, freeze-free and decentralized stablecoin system. Chainlink Price Feeds ensure accurate pricing across blockchains.
Transparency: All reserves are publicly verifiable on-chain. The TRON DAO Reserve publishes transparent reports showing collateral holdings, which are stored in publicly viewable blockchain accounts. Users can verify the current collateral ratio and asset composition through these public records.
Key Partnerships and Ecosystem Integrations
TRON DAO Reserve has partnered up with several top-tier blockchain institutions and protocols to help set the interest rate for USDD, similar to how central banks of countries utilize interest rates to influence supply and demand for their respective currencies.
USDD is listed on crypto exchanges, including KuCoin, PancakeSwap (V2), Uniswap (V3), SushiSwap, Gate.io, Poloniex, Huobi, Bybit and more.
In October 2022, it was announced that USDD became legal tender in the Commonwealth of Dominica, a Caribbean island nation with a population of slightly over 70,000.
Competitive Advantages and Value Proposition
USDD represents an ambitious attempt to create a decentralized, algorithmic stablecoin that maintains stability without relying on traditional banking infrastructure. By combining over-collateralization with institutional oversight and algorithmic mechanisms, USDD aims to address some of the challenges that led to previous algorithmic failures.
Yield Generation: The Smart Allocator protocol distributes yields sustainably, avoiding inflationary mechanisms.
Its availability across multiple blockchains makes it accessible for traders operating in different ecosystems, though its relatively smaller market size compared to USDT or USDC can limit liquidity for large transactions.
Recent Development Activity and Roadmap
USDD 2.0 Upgrade
In a strategic response to historical skepticism surrounding algorithmic models the project underwent a significant restructuring in January of 2025 which brought a pivot toward an Over Collateralised Decentralised Stablecoin (OCDS) architecture. This allowed USDD, rebranded as USDD 2.0, to be underpinned by the battle tested Collateral Debt Position model, initially popularised by Sky (fka MakerDAO) and their stablecoin DAI, enhancing trust in USDD security through a transparent asset backed structure.
On January 25, the decentralized stablecoin project USDD 2.0 on the TRON blockchain officially announced its launch, marking an important step forward in security, decentralization, and stability. This upgrade aims to provide users with a more reliable and efficient decentralized stablecoin trading experience and to promote the further development of the DeFi ecosystem on the TRON blockchain.
USDD 2.0 significantly enhances its security through multiple innovative technologies. These include a secure liquidation mechanism, dynamic collateral ratios, and an advanced risk management system. Together, these measures ensure that USDD 2.0 can maintain a stable peg to the US dollar at a 1:1 ratio, even during periods of high market volatility.
USDD 2.0 will soon launch a 20% staking activity on Justlend DAO. At the same time, users will be able to participate in staking through platforms like SUN.io and exchanges, enjoying generous incentive rewards. This activity not only provides users with an additional source of income but also further promotes the adoption and application of USDD 2.0.
Risk Considerations
USDD has experienced temporary depegging during market stress, including drops to $0.983 during Terra's collapse and $0.97 during the FTX crisis. While the stablecoin recovered its peg, these events highlight the challenges facing algorithmic stablecoins during periods of market panic.
Key risks include depegging events during market stress, collateral value fluctuations, regulatory uncertainty, and technological risks associated with smart contracts and algorithmic mechanisms.
Sources:
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