Product Drop: USDU Custody Is Now Live

Stablecoins have quietly become the settlement layer of digital assets. They are how institutions move money between venues, park liquidity, and settle trades without the delays of traditional rails.

The catch has always been trust. Which issuer, which reserves, which regulator, and where do you keep the asset once you hold it?

USDU is one answer to that question, and it is now available to custody with Zodia Custody Limited (UK). It joins the range of fiat-backed stablecoins already supported on the platform.

View supported tokens

What is USDU?

USDU (USD Universal) is a US dollar-backed stablecoin. Each token is designed to hold a steady value of one US dollar, backed 1:1 by USD reserves held in onshore accounts at UAE banks including Emirates NBD, Mashreq and Mbank.

What sets it apart is the regulatory wrapper. USDU is registered with the Central Bank of the UAE as a “Foreign Payment Token” under the country’s Payment Token Services Regulation, and is issued by Universal Digital Intl Limited, a firm licensed by the ADGM Financial Services Regulatory Authority. Universal says it is the first, and currently only, USD stablecoin to hold that registration, which Universal positions as the regulated route for settling USD-denominated digital asset trades in the UAE.

A few things worth knowing:

• Reserves are attested monthly by accounting firm Crowe, with proof-of-reserves layered on top so backing can be verified closer to live.
• The smart contract has been independently audited by CertiK.
• Holders who are onboarded can redeem USDU for dollars at par, subject to eligibility, onboarding and compliance requirements.

Working with Aquanow

USDU is distributed by Aquanow, the digital asset infrastructure provider that acts as the token’s sole distributor, handling minting and redemption requests and institutional access globally.

We have worked alongside Aquanow across a number of projects, and this launch builds on that relationship. They bring the liquidity and distribution rails; we bring the custody. For institutions, that means a clear path from accessing USDU through Aquanow to holding it securely with Zodia Custody.

What this means for you

With USDU now supported, clients can:

• Custody USDU in the client’s own HSM, air-gapped cold wallets
• Move funds with 24/7 withdrawals, to and from cold storage
• Hold USDU in fully segregated wallets, with no co-mingling of client assets
• Use USDU as part of institutional settlement and treasury workflows, with safeguarding handled by a dedicated custodian

How it works

• Asset: USDU (USD Universal)
• Network: Ethereum (ERC-20)
• Issuer: Universal Digital Intl Limited (ADGM FSRA licensed; CBUAE-registered Foreign Payment Token)
• Distributor: Aquanow
• Custody model: HSM-backed cold wallet storage, fully segregated per client
• Availability: Zodia Custody Limited (UK)

Redemption and reserve backing are the responsibility of the issuer and its distributor, not Zodia Custody. Our role is the custody of your USDU once held.

Getting started

1. Already a client of Zodia Custody Limited (UK)? USDU is available to hold today.
2. Accessing USDU through Aquanow? Let us know and we will connect the custody side.
3. Not yet a Zodia Custody client? Register your interest below and a Zodia representative will be in touch.

 

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This service is provided by Zodia Custody Limited (UK). These materials do not constitute an offer or solicitation outside the United Kingdom. USDU is issued by Universal, not by Zodia Custody, and its value and reserve backing are not the responsibility of Zodia Custody.