IIAwards - Review of TrueUSD

As part of the recently announced IIAwards, in which we celebrate innovations in the fintech and crypto industry, today we will analyze TrueUSD taking into account different categories.

TrustToken is an asset tokenization platform that intends to bring the benefits of blockchain technology to traditional asset classes. Issued and maintained by TrustToken, TUSD is recognized as the first stablecoin launched with a core focus on transparency. The project was launched in 2018 as a response to the increased volatility in the cryptocurrency market and the increasingly speculative characteristics of Tether. Listed and trusted by major exchanges, TrueUSD is one of several emerging stablecoins playing a significant role in the blockchain ecosystem.

TrustToken does not currently charge any fees to purchase or redeem TrueUSD, however the user may incur charges from their respective bank.

TUSD’s established market presence has greatly improved the overall perception and reputation of stablecoins as a result of being the first fully transparent stablecoin on the Ethereum blockchain. TrustToken is expected to launch more tokenized currencies in the coming year - with TCAD, TAUD, and TGBP and THKD already introduced. TUSD is the ticker symbol and short-form name of the True US dollar. It is the first tokenized asset created on the TrustToken platform, and is the first fully regulated, transparent stablecoin released. The TUSD represents tokenized US dollars at a rate of 1:1. The TUSD is an ERC-20 token that was created on the Ethereum blockchain, which is where it derives its security from. Those using the TUSD benefit from the ability to immediately enter and exit cryptocurrency markets without needing to worry about time constraints created by settlement processes in the traditional banking ecosystem.

In order to purchase and redeem TUSD through TrustToken directly, users must complete a KYC (Know Your Customer) process.

The purchase process is as follows:

Unless you are a registered user, it is not possible to directly contact any of the customer support representatives.

The contents of said escrow account are verified by an independent third-party accountant that publishes monthly attestation reports. If someone wants to obtain TrueUSD through the online application, they will need to pass a KYC/AML check. Once that’s complete, they can send USD to one of TrueUSD’s trust company partners. Once the funds are verified by the trust company, their API will instruct the TrueUSD smart contract to issue tokens on a 1 to 1 ratio and to send them to the Ethereum address associated with the account at hand. Once in the wallet, the tokens can be transferred to a friend or used as payment, combining the advantages of fiat (stability and trust) with those of cryptocurrencies (reduced fees and transfer times). The user can also redeem real US dollars by sending the TUSD tokens back to the smart contract address, which will notify the trust company, and initiate a bank transfer to the user’s account.

TUSD is currently one of the safest stablecoins available. It is regulated and compliant, the TrustToken is fully licensed and operates within the required legal framework of US regulations. Cohen & Co auditing firm verifies the stablecoin reserves, but TUSD and the other digital assets issued by TrustToken are entirely centralized, a critical problem in the eyes of the crypto community. Moreover, users who purchase or redeem TUSD from TrustToken are required to complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedure. However, some might not see this as a negative aspect. On the other hand, the clients' holdings are FDIC-insured and token holders are legally protected against misappropriation.

As of 2020, Crypto.com (a crypto-powered platform that allows users to buy, sell, pay and receive Bitcoin and altcoins) has integrated TrueUSD stablecoin into its MCO Visa Card, to enable TUSD holders to easily spend their coins at all Visa-supported locations around the globe.