FDUSD is a dollar stablecoin from Hong Kong's First Digital group, backed 1:1 by cash and US Treasury bills. It has logged over $4.7 trillion in trading volume since June 2023.

Outside trading, there are also ways to put FDUSD toward something more practical. At Polkastarter, FDUSD holders can browse physical collectibles, such as rare trading cards, sealed products, and video games. It's a simple way to put the token toward something tangible, and new users can get a free mystery pack when they sign up.

One of the most useful options is travel. CoinBooking lets users book hotels and flights at prices up to 30% below Booking.com. New users can also get $25 off their first booking.

Here are six ways to use FDUSD in 2026.

Key Takeaways

• Physical collectibles are available on Polkastarter, such as verified trading cards, sealed products and video games. New users can also claim a free mystery pack.
• CoinBooking accepts FDUSD for hotel and flight reservations, at prices up to 30% below Booking.com. New users can also get $25 off their first booking.
• FDUSD can be minted and redeemed 1:1 for US dollars through its issuer, with reserves attested monthly. It trades in more than 100 pairs on six networks, including Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain and Solana.
• Supported crypto debit cards can bring FDUSD into everyday spending. Mastercard-linked cards can be used at millions of merchants where the issuer supports both the card and FDUSD.
• FDUSD can also pay for gift cards, prepaid vouchers, and mobile top-ups from over 5,000 brands through Coinsbee, as well as give access to early-stage token sales on CoinTerminal.

What Is First Digital USD (FDUSD)?

First Digital USD is a fiat-backed stablecoin designed to hold a 1:1 value with the US dollar. The project launched in May 2023, and the token followed in June 2023, with Binance as its first major trading venue.

FDUSD is issued by FD121 Limited, part of the Hong Kong-based First Digital group led by CEO Vincent Chok, while First Digital Trust holds the reserves. In October 2026, First Digital signed a business combination agreement with CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III that is expected to make it a Nasdaq-listed company.

FDUSD is used for trading pairs, payments and cross-border settlement. It has no published maximum supply, with about 316 million tokens in circulation and a market capitalisation of around $315 million.

How Does First Digital USD (FDUSD) Work?

First Digital USD is a fiat-collateralised stablecoin, a type of token backed by dollar reserves rather than crypto or an algorithm. When a user or institution deposits US dollars with the issuer, an equal amount of FDUSD is minted, and when a holder redeems, the tokens are burned.

The reserves sit in short-dated US Treasury bills, overnight reverse repos and bank cash, held across institutions in Hong Kong, Switzerland and Australia. Prescient Assurance attests to them every month.

FDUSD itself works as a dollar unit that moves freely on-chain, serving as a quote currency on exchanges, a settlement asset for payments and a source of liquidity in DeFi protocols.

What I like about First Digital USD is that it keeps things simple. Every FDUSD is backed by dollars held in T-bills, repos and bank cash, and redeeming burns the tokens. And because the reserves get a monthly attestation, you don't have to take the backing on faith.

1. Buy Physical Collectibles With FDUSD on Polkastarter

Polkastarter allows FDUSD holders to access authenticated physical collectibles, including trading cards, sealed products, video games, and other items. Ownership is recorded on-chain, while the physical items themselves stay in professional custody.

Depending on the platform's available options, you can request delivery of your items or sell them through the marketplace. FDUSD is not currently accepted directly at checkout, so you must first swap it for a supported cryptocurrency.

Once your account is funded, you can browse the available collectibles and Lootboxes, with the contents, value, and odds shown before you purchase. New users can also get a free mystery pack after they sign up.

Head to the Polkastarter marketplace for current inventory and supported payment options.

Polkastarter is a good fit if you're collecting trading cards, sealed products or video games. You pay for the item in crypto, it's held in professional custody, and you choose later whether to have it delivered or list it back on the marketplace. Just swap your FDUSD for a supported cryptocurrency beforehand.

2. Book Hotels and Flights With FDUSD on CoinBooking

Your FDUSD can do more than sit in your wallet. CoinBooking lets you book hotels and flights up to 30% cheaper than Booking.com, accepting FDUSD alongside 200+ other cryptocurrencies. CoinBooking is a leading Dubai-licensed crypto travel platform that gives you access to more than 2 million hotels and flights in 190+ countries.

FDUSD can be spent directly on your booking, so there is no need to convert it to fiat first. CoinBooking also accepts Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, giving travellers several payment options.

For frequent travellers, those savings can add up quickly. First-time users can also get $25 off their first booking.

What I like about CoinBooking is that you don't need to cash out beforehand. If a trip's on your calendar, you pay for the hotel or flight with your FDUSD right at checkout, and it can cost you up to 30% less than on Booking.com.

3. Use FDUSD Across the First Digital Ecosystem

FDUSD has its most direct utility as a dollar unit across the First Digital ecosystem and the six networks it runs on, including Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Solana, Sui, Arbitrum and TON. Holders use it to move value on-chain without leaving the US dollar.

Most of that activity happens in trading. FDUSD trades in more than 100 pairs across 16 exchanges, and its single-day trading volume once peaked at about $25 billion.

In February 2026, Canza Finance integrated FDUSD into its B2B and cross-border settlement infrastructure for emerging markets. First Digital is also developing Finance District, with Prism for automated fee splitting and Vault for routing deposits into tokenised real-world asset strategies.

This makes sense, because FDUSD does the most for you as a stable dollar on-chain. If you trade, you'll find it in more than 100 pairs, and it moves across six networks, from Ethereum to Sui. And if you'd rather not hold volatile tokens between trades, it's an easy way to stay in dollars.

4. Spend FDUSD With a Crypto Card

FDUSD can also be used for everyday purchases via crypto payment cards. Depending on the provider, you can use the card to pay online, shop wherever Visa and Mastercard are accepted, or make mobile payments with Apple Pay and Google Pay.

RedotPay is offered across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, though not to US residents. KAST provides both virtual and physical cards, while Ether.fi pairs self-custody with cashback on eligible purchases.

To get started, pick a provider available in your region, fund your account with FDUSD, and order your card. Check each provider's fees, features, and availability before signing up.

What stands out to me about crypto cards is how little really changes for you. You still tap your phone with Apple Pay or Google Pay, or pay by card online, but now the money comes from your FDUSD. Choose a provider that's available where you live, since the options differ by region.

5. Buy Gift Cards and Everyday Products With FDUSD on Coinsbee

Coinsbee opens up everyday spending for FDUSD. The platform accepts more than 200 cryptocurrencies and offers gift cards, prepaid products, and mobile top-ups from over 5,000 brands in 185+ countries.

You can spend it in categories such as shopping, groceries, gaming, travel, food delivery, and entertainment. Choose the brand and amount you want, select FDUSD at checkout, and complete the payment. Once it's confirmed, your digital code is sent through Coinsbee's delivery process.

Ranges vary from one country to the next, so it's worth checking the catalogue for your region first.

Coinsbee is a good fit if you'd like your FDUSD to cover everyday things. You choose a gift card for groceries, gaming or food delivery, pick FDUSD at checkout, and receive a digital code once the payment's confirmed. Take a look at the catalogue for your country first, since it isn't the same everywhere.

6. Access Early-Stage Token Sales Through CoinTerminal

FDUSD holders can also use CoinTerminal to join early-stage token sales before projects reach exchanges. Contributions start from $100, and there is no staking requirement to take part.

FDUSD is not accepted directly, so you'll first need to convert it into the asset required for the sale, usually USDT. Each launch also includes a refund window, with the applicable terms set for that sale.

Visit CoinTerminal for the launches currently available and their individual terms.

What stands out to me about CoinTerminal is that you get in before projects hit exchanges. There's no staking requirement, contributions start at $100, and every launch comes with a refund window. Check the terms of the sale you choose, since each one sets its own.

Sources

• Binance Academy, What Is Polkastarter (POLS)?
• Revolut, Polkastarter (POLS) Price Today
• CoinMarketCap, Polkastarter trade volume and market listings
• First Digital USD, First Digital USD official website and FDUSD ecosystem overview
• CoinMarketCap, First Digital USD (FDUSD) price, market cap and live token data

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the first digital USD?

First Digital USD (FDUSD) is a fiat-backed stablecoin issued by a company in the Hong Kong-based First Digital group and designed to hold a 1:1 value with the US dollar. It launched in June 2023 and is used for trading pairs, payments and cross-border settlement on six networks, including Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain and Solana.

2. Can I book hotels and flights with FDUSD?

Yes. Through CoinBooking, a Dubai-licensed crypto travel platform, FDUSD users can choose from more than 2 million hotels and flights across 190+ countries at prices up to 30% lower than Booking.com. You can pay directly with FDUSD or use Visa, Mastercard, Google Pay and Apple Pay, and new users get $25 off their first booking.

3. Which Digital coin is backed by the US dollar?

Several stablecoins are backed by US dollar reserves, and FDUSD is one of them. Each token is backed 1:1 by short-dated US Treasury bills, overnight reverse repos and bank cash, held by First Digital Trust in segregated, bankruptcy-remote accounts and attested monthly by Prescient Assurance.

4. What is U.S. dollar coin crypto?

A US dollar coin is a stablecoin designed to hold a 1:1 value with the US dollar, backed by dollar reserves rather than crypto or an algorithm. FDUSD is one example: when US dollars are deposited with its issuer, an equal amount of FDUSD is minted, and when a holder redeems, the tokens are burned.

5. Which Digital coin is backed by the U.S. dollar?

One example is First Digital USD (FDUSD), issued by FD121 Limited, part of the Hong Kong-based First Digital group led by CEO Vincent Chok. First Digital Trust holds the reserves in segregated accounts, and each token can be minted and redeemed 1:1 for US dollars through its issuer, with reserves attested monthly.