# Bitcoin Gets Its Native Dollar: Citrea Launches $ctUSD With MoonPay and M0

> Bitcoin is getting something it has long lacked: a native, compliant dollar layer built specifically for Bitcoin applications.

By Lidia Yadlos · January 15, 2026

Canonical: https://blockster.com/bitcoin-gets-its-native-dollar-citrea-launches-ctusd-with-moonpay-and-m0

_Bitcoin is getting something it has long lacked: a native, compliant dollar layer built specifically for Bitcoin applications._  
   
**[Citrea](https://citrea.xyz/)**, the Bitcoin application layer developed by Chainway Labs, has announced the launch of **Citrea USD (ctUSD)** — a 1:1 U.S. dollar–denominated stablecoin **[issued by MoonPay and powered by M0](https://blockster.com/exodus-moonpay-m0-team-up-to-launch-a-digital-dollar-built-for-everyday-payments)**. Fully backed by short-term U.S. Treasury bills and cash, ctUSD is designed to become the foundational stablecoin for Bitcoin-based finance.  
  
Rather than bolting dollar liquidity onto Bitcoin through bridges or external assets, ctUSD is issued **natively on Citrea**, giving the Bitcoin ecosystem a unified and compliant settlement asset from day one.

[Post from @moonpay on X](https://twitter.com/moonpay/status/2011800700255105236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2011800700255105236%7Ctwgr%5Ef8ae1eff0e0959a299a1be7c2687daffab5fc73c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fblockster.com%2Fbitcoin-gets-its-native-dollar-citrea-launches-ctusd-with-moonpay-and-m0)

## Solving Bitcoin’s Stablecoin Gap

For years, Bitcoin development has faced a structural constraint: while BTC is the most secure and widely held crypto asset, there has been no globally accessible, compliant stablecoin built specifically for Bitcoin-native applications.  
   
That gap has forced developers to rely on bridged assets, fragmented liquidity pools, and third-party intermediaries — introducing complexity and systemic risk before ecosystems even reach maturity.  
   
ctUSD is designed to eliminate that fragmentation.

> **“Liquidity on Citrea is forming now. By establishing a native, compliant standard early, the ecosystem avoids splintering into dozens of incompatible, risky bridged tokens before it even matures.”**
>
> **Orkun Kilic, Co-founder & CEO of Chainway Labs**

## Built for Compliance and Global Access

ctUSD combines three critical components: native issuance, regulatory alignment, and global distribution.  
   
The stablecoin is issued by **[MoonPay](https://www.moonpay.com/)**, one of the most established crypto payments companies globally, serving over 30 million verified users across more than 180 countries.  
  
As a result, ctUSD will be accessible in the U.S. (excluding New York) and more than **160 countries worldwide**, while remaining fully redeemable 1:1 through regulated issuance and redemption processes.

> **“Compliance is key to responsible scaling. Citrea applies that approach from the start, creating safe and accessible pathways into the Bitcoin ecosystem.”**
>
> **Ivan Soto-Wright, Co-founder & CEO of MoonPay**

## Powered by M0’s Stablecoin Infrastructure

Under the hood, ctUSD runs on **[M0](https://www.m0.org/)**, a universal stablecoin platform built to support programmable, interoperable digital dollars across applications and networks.  
   
Rather than launching a one-off stablecoin, Citrea is leveraging M0’s infrastructure to ensure ctUSD can expand across integrations over time — without sacrificing controls, transparency, or composability.

> **“Open, interoperable platforms are the foundation for scalable stablecoin infrastructure. ctUSD shows how application-specific digital dollars can launch quickly while remaining flexible enough to grow across networks.”**
>
> **Luca Prosperi, CEO of M0**

## Banking Rails for Bitcoin Finance

Beyond stable settlement, ctUSD is designed as **infrastructure**, not just a token. Developers building on Citrea gain access to a full toolkit that connects Bitcoin collateral to real-world finance, including:

- **Virtual IBANs (vIBANs)** via Iron (a MoonPay company), enabling dedicated USD bank accounts with ACH and wire support
- **Non-custodial cross-chain access** through [Swaps.xyz](http://Swaps.xyz), allowing assets from Ethereum and Solana to bridge into Citrea
- **Merchant payments** via Helio, enabling “Pay with ctUSD” cards and real-world checkout support

Together, these components position ctUSD as a true **banking rail for Bitcoin-native capital markets**, rather than a passive store of value.

[Post from @citrea\_xyz on X](https://twitter.com/citrea_xyz/status/2011802579592704058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2011802579592704058%7Ctwgr%5E2500b27edc3c38039a2ae962b8cbf2e539422727%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fblockster.com%2Fbitcoin-gets-its-native-dollar-citrea-launches-ctusd-with-moonpay-and-m0)

## **A New Phase for Bitcoin Applications**

Backed by investors including **Founders Fund, Galaxy, Maven 11, Delphi Digital, Erik Voorhees, and Balaji Srinivasan**, the platform is focused on bringing institutional-grade infrastructure to Bitcoin without compromising its core principles.