(Office of the Tinian Mayor) —The small, remote Pacific island of Tinian, in the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, has officially issued and minted the first fully reserved, fiat-backed stable token issued by a public entity in the United States. The issuance of the token, designated as MUSD, marks a historic milestone for U.S. states, territories, and commonwealths and a pivotal moment in the evolution of money.
The Marianas U.S. Dollar or MUSD is exclusively issued as a Simple Ledger Protocol token on the eCash (XEC) network, the most widely adopted Bitcoin token standard. This open- source protocol ensures that MUSD transactions inherit the robust security and technical capabilities of Bitcoin. Maintained by premiere development team Bitcoin ABC, the eCash blockchain offers ultra-low transaction fees and state-of-the-art security, while preserving an unbroken lineage from the original Bitcoin codebase established by Satoshi Nakamoto.
This remarkable achievement by an island of only 2,000 residents underscores Tinian’s strategic value and unique role within the United States, both historically and today. Developed in direct response to Executive Order 14178, “Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology,” issued by President Donald Trump, MUSD aims to foster a sustainable digital economy that eliminates dependency tourism and immigration.
To symbolize security and transparency, the first 100 U.S. dollar bill backing MUSD was ceremonially enshrined at the Tinian Treasury.
“President Trump emphasized the pivotal role of digital assets in economic development, and we acted swiftly to lead the nation with the launch of a dollar-backed stable token,” said Senate Vice President Karl King-Nabors. “Tinian is uniquely positioned to emerge as an international leader in blockchain innovation. Here, the sun rises first on America’s digital financial future.”
The introduction of MUSD is strategically timed with the launch of Google’s $1 billion Pacific Connect initiative, which establishes new undersea fiber-optic connections between the continental U.S. and Japan, positioning Tinian as a critical node in global internet infrastructure.
Additionally, Tinian’s Economic Incentive District, a U.S.-protected free trade zone offers unparalleled tax benefits, expedited permitting processes, and substantial tax rebates, making it an attractive domicile for digital enterprises and startups.
“The pandemic that began in 2020 has had a profound impact on our primary industry, tourism. We have used the tourism downturn that followed the pandemic as an opportunity to shift our focus to developing sustainable, digital revenue streams independent of local markets,” stated King-Nabors. “Launching MUSD represents just the beginning of our broader vision to create lasting economic opportunities for our community, particularly for our youth and future generations.”
The global market capitalization for stable tokens exceeds $231 billion, with nearly $200 billion in U.S. dollar-backed variants similar to MUSD. Capturing even 1% of this market could translate into billions of dollars in reserves managed by Tinian’s Municipal Treasurer. The MUSD ecosystem incorporates cutting-edge features such as integrated on/off ramps, credit card processing, and direct peer-to-peer payments with free “postage” and no “gas” or fees.
The Municipality of Tinian and Aguiguan has chosen CNMI-based Marianas Rai Corp. as the exclusive provider of software and services for the issuance and redemption of MUSD, including the growth of the MUSD technology and business development ecosystem.
“MUSD truly represents a paradigm shift not just in the governance of the issuer, it represents a level-up in stable token technology,” said Vin Armani, CTO of Marianas Rai Corp. “By leveraging a cutting-edge open source and public Bitcoin network with near-zero transaction fees, MUSD tokens enable digital U.S. dollar commerce not only in every existing industry, but also in currently unaddressed industries such as content delivery and gaming, that require instant microtransactions with values of a fraction of a cent.”
As the U.S. under President Trump’s leadership seeks to harness digital assets for innovation and economic growth, Tinian has emerged as a trailblazer. The MUSD stable token (learn more at dollar.mp) stands as the first U.S. government-issued stablecoin, supported by a robust digital infrastructure and one of the world’s most favorable tax environments.
About the Municipality of Tinian and Aguiguan
The Municipality of Tinian and Aguiguan is one of four municipalities in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and represents the westernmost U.S. island in the Pacific. Home to 2,000 residents, Tinian boasts a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant natural ecosystem. Today, it leads the way in digital economic development through initiatives like the MUSD stable token, Google’s Pacific Connect, and the CNMI’s premier free trade zone. Visit dollar.mp for more information.
About Marianas Rai Corp.
Headquartered in the CNMI, Marianas Rai Corp. delivers technology solutions that enable the growth of digital economies through innovative platforms and services. Focused on increasing “Prosperancy” — a measure of prosperity per capita — MRC is committed to building sustainable digital infrastructures. Learn more at nmrai.com/.
