White House event paid UFC winners with Trump family stablecoin
Winners at a White House UFC event received bonuses in USD1, a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial. The payment structure drew attention because federal ethics rules exempt the president from conflict-of-interest restrictions that apply to other officials.
Winners at a White House UFC event on the South Lawn received record bonuses paid in USD1, a stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial, a company founded by members of the president's family and business associates. The fighters did not receive payment in U.S. dollars. Instead, the prize money came in the form of the stablecoin, which is backed by cash and government debt.
Ethics rules and exemptions A former chief White House ethics lawyer said the arrangement would likely be illegal for most federal officials under 18 U.S.C. § 208, which bars executive branch employees from participating in matters that affect their financial interests.
The president, vice president, and members of Congress are exempt from that statute. The exemption allows participation in events that feature World Liberty Financial.
Company background and revenue World Liberty Financial was founded in 2024.
The president's most recent financial disclosure shows more than $57.3 million received from sales of the company's governance token. USD1, launched in 2025, now circulates in the billions of dollars and generates tens of millions of dollars a year in interest income for the issuer.
UFC and the White House did not respond to questions about which fighters received the stablecoin payouts or whether officials evaluated potential conflicts of interest.
