Can Stablecoin Upstart Usual Challenge USDT?

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The stablecoin landscape is witnessing a bold new contender—Usual—as it officially launched its mainnet on July 10, 2025, and introduced an innovative points-based incentive program. By leveraging real-world assets (RWA) and a user-centric profit-sharing model, Usual aims to disrupt the dominance of established players like USDT and USDC, offering a fresh vision for decentralized finance.

At the heart of this ambitious project is USD0, a 1:1 asset-backed stablecoin designed with enhanced security and sustainability in mind. Unlike traditional stablecoins, which often rely on opaque reserve structures, USD0 is backed by short-duration real-world assets and sovereign bonds—making it inherently more resilient during market stress or liquidity crises.

Backed by $7 million in seed funding from top-tier investors including IOSG Ventures, Kraken Ventures, Starkware, and Mantle, Usual Labs is positioning itself not just as another stablecoin issuer, but as a revolutionary force in reshaping how value is stored and distributed in DeFi.

👉 Discover how next-gen stablecoins are redefining financial freedom

The Vision Behind Usual: Ownership and Profit Redistribution

One of the most compelling aspects of Usual is its mission to return ownership and profits to users. Traditional stablecoin issuers like Tether, the company behind USDT, generate billions annually—reportedly nearly $10 billion per year—from investing reserves. Yet these returns largely benefit a small group of insiders rather than the everyday users who hold and transact with the tokens.

Usual flips this model on its head. Instead of concentrating wealth and control, it distributes governance power and financial rewards directly to participants through its upcoming $USUAL token. Users who deposit assets into the protocol receive USD0, which functions as a deposit receipt (LDT), and can then convert their holdings into USD0++, a yield-bearing liquidity bond token (LBT), to earn rewards.

This profit-sharing mechanism aligns incentives across the ecosystem: the more users engage, the more they earn—both in yield and future governance rights.

The Purple Pill: Breaking Free from the Banking Matrix

Drawing inspiration from the iconic film The Matrix, Usual introduces its loyalty points system as "Pills"—purple digital tokens symbolizing a balanced awakening to financial sovereignty.

In The Matrix, the red pill represents truth and liberation, while the blue pill stands for comfort and illusion. Usual’s purple pill blends both concepts—signifying a transition toward transparency and decentralization without sacrificing stability or security.

"Break free from the banking matrix."

This slogan isn’t just marketing flair—it encapsulates a growing sentiment among crypto enthusiasts that legacy financial systems are outdated, centralized, and exclusionary. With Usual, users aren’t merely adopting a new stablecoin; they’re participating in a movement to reclaim control over their finances.

Participants earn these purple pills by:

These points will eventually be convertible into the native $USUAL token, with 7.5% of the total supply allocated for this initial airdrop campaign.

How to Participate in the Usual Ecosystem

Engaging with Usual is straightforward and built with user experience in mind.

Step 1: Join the Pills Campaign

Visit the official platform at app.usual.money, connect your wallet, and follow the onboarding steps. You can use an invite code (e.g., SJYPG) if available, though it's optional.

After connecting your wallet (on Ethereum mainnet), you’ll be guided through:

Note: Gas fees on Ethereum may vary. If costs are high, you can skip depositing immediately and return later via the “Drugstore” tab on the left sidebar.

Step 2: Earn Pills Through Activity

There are two primary ways to accumulate points:

Additionally, your earning rate increases over time—by 2% each day, compounding up to a maximum 10x multiplier. The longer you stay committed, the faster you earn. However, withdrawing assets resets your multiplier to 1x, incentivizing long-term participation.

👉 Start earning rewards in tomorrow’s financial ecosystem today

Step 3: Refer Friends and Multiply Rewards

Usual encourages community growth through referrals. For every friend you invite who earns pills, you receive 10% of their total pill accumulation as a bonus. This creates a powerful viral loop that rewards early adopters and strengthens network effects.

Bonus: Galxe Quest Series

Beyond the core app, Usual has partnered with Galxe to launch supplementary quests under the “Pills Campaign.” These involve simple social tasks like retweeting announcements or joining Discord channels. While not mandatory, they offer additional engagement opportunities for active community members.

Core Keywords & SEO Strategy

To maximize visibility and relevance in search engines, key terms naturally integrated throughout this article include:

These keywords reflect high-intent search queries from users exploring next-generation stablecoins, DeFi yield strategies, and alternatives to centralized issuers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is USD0 backed by?
A: USD0 is 1:1 backed by short-duration real-world assets and government bonds, offering greater transparency and lower risk compared to traditional stablecoins.

Q: When will the $USUAL token be launched?
A: While no official date has been announced, the token distribution will come from the ongoing pills campaign, which runs for four months post-mainnet launch.

Q: Is Usual built on Ethereum?
A: Yes, all deposits and interactions occur on the Ethereum mainnet. Users should consider gas fees when transacting.

Q: Can I withdraw my funds anytime?
A: Yes, but doing so resets your daily pill earning multiplier back to 1x. Long-term stakers are rewarded with accelerated earnings.

Q: How do I convert pills into $USUAL?
A: Details about redemption mechanics will be released closer to the token launch. Participants should keep their activity active until then.

Q: Why is Usual considered a "user-owned" stablecoin?
A: Because profits generated from reserve assets are shared with users via yield and governance rights, unlike traditional models where profits go to private entities.

👉 Explore platforms enabling user-owned finance

Final Thoughts: A New Era of User-Owned Finance?

Usual isn’t just launching another stablecoin—it’s challenging the very foundation of how digital money should work. By combining RWA-backed stability, transparent operations, and a community-first reward system, it presents a compelling alternative to dominant centralized stablecoins.

While it’s still early days, the combination of strong funding, thoughtful design, and cultural resonance (thanks to the Matrix metaphor) gives Usual a unique edge in a crowded market. Whether it can truly dethrone giants like USDT remains to be seen—but one thing is clear: the conversation around fairer, more inclusive finance has never been more relevant.

With DeFi continuing to evolve and real-world asset tokenization gaining momentum, projects like Usual could very well shape the future of global digital currency.