Latest Usual (USUAL) News Update

By CMC AI
21 January 2026 03:23PM (UTC+0)

What is the latest news on USUAL?

TLDR

Usual navigates regulatory headwinds while advancing its lending infrastructure. Here are the latest developments:

  1. DAO Vote Concludes on $1.72M Lending Infra (13 January 2026) – Usual DAO approved funding for lending infrastructure, expanding protocol capabilities.

  2. Stablecoin Regulations Advance (13 January 2026) – U.S. Senate progresses Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, potentially reshaping stablecoin compliance.

Deep Dive

1. DAO Vote Concludes on $1.72M Lending Infra (13 January 2026)

Overview:
The Usual DAO concluded a governance vote on January 13, 2026, approving $1.72 million to develop lending infrastructure. This initiative aims to enhance decentralized finance (DeFi) integration for USD0, Usual’s stablecoin, potentially boosting protocol utility and user adoption.

What this means:
This is bullish for Usual because it signals active governance and investment in revenue-generating infrastructure. However, execution risks remain, and success depends on adoption metrics like TVL growth and transaction volume.
(CoinDesk)

2. Stablecoin Regulations Advance (13 January 2026)

Overview:
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee advanced the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which proposes banning interest payments on stablecoin holdings. This legislation categorizes stablecoins as payment instruments and would place them under strict regulatory oversight.

What this means:
This is bearish for Usual because it could limit USD0’s yield offerings, a key DeFi feature. However, regulatory clarity might foster institutional adoption if compliance frameworks align with Usual’s RWA-backed model.
(Yahoo Finance)

Conclusion

Usual’s growth faces dual catalysts: infrastructure investment could drive protocol utility, while regulatory shifts may constrain yield strategies. Will USD0’s RWA-backed design prove resilient under evolving compliance demands?

What is the latest update in USUAL’s codebase?

TLDR

USUAL's codebase advances decentralization and security through governance upgrades and infrastructure hardening.

  1. Governance Transition Finalization (January 2026) – Sunsetting USUAL* token rights and transferring Labs assets to DAO control.

  2. Smart Contract Ownership Transfer (Q1 2026) – Migrating protocol infrastructure to DAO-managed addresses.

  3. Multichain Security Upgrades (April 2025) – Deploying ZK proofs for revenue tracking and expanding to Base/BNB/Arbitrum.

Deep Dive

1. Governance Transition Finalization (January 2026)

Overview: USUAL is phasing out its USUAL* token (for early contributors) by sunsetting its governance privileges, while transferring intellectual property and infrastructure from the Labs team to DAO ownership.

The code enforces USUAL’s expiration at maturity, removing its majority voting power. Simultaneously, smart contracts governing protocol assets (including treasury management tools) are being redeployed under DAO-controlled addresses. This eliminates centralized backdoors while preserving USUAL holders’ immutable 10% revenue share.

What this means: This is bullish for USUAL because it reduces centralized control risks and aligns incentives – the DAO now directly owns the protocol’s technical stack. (Source)

2. Smart Contract Ownership Transfer (Q1 2026)

Overview: Critical protocol components (revenue distributors, vault controllers) are being migrated to multi-sig wallets governed by USUAL token holders.

The upgrade introduces time-locked governance proposals and automated audits for contract changes. For example, modifying fee distribution parameters now requires a 7-day voting period and on-chain verification of code integrity via checksums.

What this means: This is neutral for USUAL in the short term – while decentralization improves, execution speed may slow. Long-term, it reduces single points of failure.

3. Multichain Security Upgrades (April 2025)

Overview: Codebase updates enabled cross-chain deployments (Base, BNB, Arbitrum) with ZK-powered revenue verification via Brevis, ensuring consistent yield tracking across networks.

The upgrade followed a $16M bug bounty program (the largest in DeFi at the time) that identified 11 medium-risk issues – all patched before mainnet deployment.

What this means: This is bullish for USUAL because expanded chain support increases utility while hardened security reduces exploit risks. (Source)

Conclusion

USUAL’s codebase shifts toward irreversible decentralization, with DAO ownership of core infrastructure now codified. Security remains prioritized via cross-chain ZK proofs and historic bounty programs. Will accelerated governance participation offset potential operational friction from decentralized control?

What is next on USUAL’s roadmap?

TLDR

Usual's roadmap focuses on decentralization, multi-currency expansion, and utility enhancements. Key milestones:

  1. Asset Transfer to DAO (Early 2026) – Labs-built infrastructure transitions to DAO ownership.

  2. USUAL STAR Sunset (Early 2026) – Early investor token rights conclude at maturity.

  3. Multi-Currency Stablecoins (Q2-Q3 2026) – EUR0, GBP0, JPY0 launch with fiat rails.

Deep Dive

1. Asset Transfer to DAO (Early 2026)

Overview: Usual Labs will transfer protocol infrastructure, code, and IP to the DAO, fulfilling decentralization goals. This includes critical systems developed pre-launch (Usual Blog).

What this means:
- Bullish: Deepens community ownership, aligning incentives and governance.
- Bearish: Execution risks if technical handover faces delays or disputes.

2. USUAL STAR Sunset (Early 2026)

Overview: USUAL STAR – issued to early investors for pre-revenue funding – sunsets its rights. Governance authority consolidates solely under USUAL tokens (Usual Blog).

What this means:
- Bullish: Simplifies governance, reduces tokenomic complexity, and strengthens USUAL’s utility.
- Neutral: May cause short-term sentiment shifts if investors exit positions post-sunset.

3. Multi-Currency Stablecoins (Q2-Q3 2026)

Overview: Expansion beyond USD0 to EUR0, GBP0, and JPY0 stablecoins. These will be collateralized by respective sovereign bonds, with FX rails for seamless cross-currency swaps (Usual Blog).

What this means:
- Bullish: Captures non-USD markets, diversifies revenue streams, and enhances DeFi interoperability.
- Bearish: Regulatory hurdles in multiple jurisdictions could delay launches or limit adoption.

Conclusion

Usual’s 2026 roadmap prioritizes sovereignty (DAO control), simplification (token consolidation), and global reach (multi-currency rails). Success hinges on seamless technical execution and regulatory navigation. How will cross-currency FX rails impact Usual’s competitive edge against traditional stablecoins?

What are people saying about USUAL?

TLDR

USUAL's social buzz balances bearish sector pressures with bullish tokenomics. Here’s what’s trending:

  1. RWA sector drags USUAL down 4%

  2. New exchange listing fuels accessibility hopes

  3. Revenue-sharing model draws DeFi loyalists

  4. High staking signals long-term commitment

Deep Dive

1. @Degenc_AI: RWA sector laggard bearish

"These are the top 5 RWA losers... Usual - $USUAL ... -4.06%"
– @Degenc_AI (2552 followers · 12 January 2026 08:04 AM UTC)
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What this means: This is bearish for USUAL because being flagged as a top RWA underperformer signals weak momentum and sector-wide selling pressure.

2. @BiconomyCom: New exchange listing bullish

"🚀NEW LISTING🔥 $USUAL ... #USUAL / #USDT spot trading pair now available!"
– @BiconomyCom (224739 followers · 31 October 2025 12:41 PM UTC)
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What this means: This is bullish for USUAL because exchange expansions typically boost liquidity and accessibility, potentially attracting new capital inflows.

3. @usualmoney: Tokenomics drive loyalty bullish

"Emissions = proof of revenue... 70% revenue = buybacks... 90% supply = community"
– @usualmoney (114288 followers · 4 August 2025 03:46 PM UTC)
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What this means: This is bullish for USUAL because transparent revenue-sharing and aggressive buybacks create strong holder incentives and token scarcity.

4. @usualmoney: Staking signals conviction bullish

"70% of USUAL staked. 55% of staked USUAL locked... Be an owner"
– @usualmoney (114288 followers · 7 August 2025 01:55 PM UTC)
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What this means: This is bullish for USUAL because high staking with locked positions indicates reduced selling pressure and long-term holder confidence.

Conclusion

The consensus on USUAL is mixed, balancing bearish RWA sector pressures against bullish protocol fundamentals. Watch staking rates and RWA sector flows for directional signals as these remain key valuation drivers.

CMC AI can make mistakes. Not financial advice.