Advisers linked to U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace are exploring a dollar-pegged stablecoin for Gaza as part of discussions on postwar reconstruction.
The proposal highlights both the appeal and the risks of extending US-denominated digital money into fragile economies.
The discussions were first reported by the Financial Times. It involves issuing a privately run stablecoin backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars to facilitate aid payments, salaries, remittances, and everyday commerce in Gaza, where much of the traditional banking infrastructure has been destroyed after more than a year of war.
The idea remains at an early, exploratory stage, and no formal proposal has been submitted to the U.S. administration.
According to the FT, the concept was presented by Israeli tech entrepreneur Liran Tancman, an unpaid adviser to the Trump-linked Board of Peace, chaired by Jared Kushner.
The stablecoin would not replace a Palestinian currency but function as a supplementary payment rail. Transactions will be traceable and comply with U.S. anti-money laundering rules.
A digital fix for a broken banking system
Proponents frame the proposal as a pragmatic response to Gaza’s realities: limited cash availability, damaged banks, and the need for fast, low-cost payments to distribute aid and wages.
From a technical perspective, a dollar-backed stablecoin could provide immediate settlement and reduce reliance on physical cash. Similar models have already taken hold in parts of the developing world where access to banking is constrained.
Structural dependence and sanction exposure
At the same time, the proposal underscores the dominance of dollar-backed stablecoins.
Tokens such as USDT and USDC already account for more than 70% of the global stablecoin market, effectively extending U.S. monetary influence beyond its borders through private issuers.
Embedding a postwar economy directly into a U.S. dollar stablecoin system would, by design, deepen reliance on U.S. regulatory tolerance.
Any future sanctions or enforcement actions could disrupt redemptions or transactions, creating a single point of failure for aid flows and commerce. While this risk exists across the stablecoin sector, it becomes more acute in a territory with limited alternatives.
Optics amid Trump-linked crypto expansion
The timing of the discussions also places them against a backdrop of growing crypto involvement by Trump-linked figures.
Trump himself has embraced digital assets more openly than during his first term, and entities associated with his family have launched dollar-backed stablecoin projects.
The FT notes that there is no direct link between those ventures and the Gaza proposal, and none has been disclosed.
Still, the overlap highlights how political influence, private stablecoin issuance, and debates over postwar reconstruction are increasingly intersecting.
Early-stage idea, wider implications
For now, the proposal remains conceptual. Regulatory approval would be required, and it is unclear whether the plan will advance or gain broader political support.
However, the discussions illustrate that stablecoins are no longer just trading instruments but tools under consideration for state-adjacent economic rebuilding.
Final Summary
- A dollar-backed stablecoin could ease payments in Gaza but would hardwire U.S. monetary dependence into a postwar economy.
- The proposal reflects how stablecoins are increasingly shaping debates over geopolitics and reconstruction, even before formal adoption.