Gemini Dollar (GUSD)

Gemini Dollar (GUSD) is a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin issued by Gemini, combining the stability and creditworthiness of the USD with the speed and programmability of blockchain technology. Launched in 2018, GUSD is an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, fully regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). It is designed for developers and enterprises seeking a transparent, secure, and compliant digital dollar for payments, trading, and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.

GUSD is fully backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars held in segregated accounts, including cash, money market funds, and U.S. Treasury obligations. Monthly attestations by an independent accounting firm (BPM LLP) verify these reserves, ensuring transparency and trust. The smart contract code is open source and audited by Trail of Bits, providing security assurances for developers integrating GUSD into their applications.

Users can convert USD to GUSD fee-free via the Gemini platform and use it for instant settlement in DeFi protocols, liquidity pools, and NFT marketplaces like OpenSea and Nifty Gateway. GUSD supports real-world use cases such as paying employees or vendors globally with blockchain efficiency and lower costs compared to traditional banking. Its regulatory compliance and FDIC pass-through insurance on cash reserves make it suitable for institutional use and enterprise tokenization projects.

To get started, developers can access the open-source smart contract on GitHub and integrate GUSD into Ethereum-based applications. Gemini’s comprehensive documentation and monthly reserve reports provide ongoing transparency. GUSD’s broad adoption across DeFi protocols and exchanges makes it a reliable stablecoin choice for building financial products and digital payment solutions.