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USDai Coin (USDAI): Top 5 Ways to Spend It in 2026
USDai (USDAI) is the synthetic dollar of USD.AI, a credit protocol that finances AI infrastructure through loans backed by GPU hardware. Built by New York-based Permian Labs, the project raised $13 million in a Series A round led by Framework Ventures in August 2025.
Outside the protocol, there are also more practical ways to spend USDAI, and one of the most useful is travel. Through Epic, holders can book hotels and flights at prices up to 30% cheaper than Booking.com and earn up to 8% cashback in XRP. New users can also claim $25 off their first booking.
Below are five ways to use USDAI in 2026, from booking travel to buying gift cards.
Key Takeaways
- Epic lets you book hotels and flights with USDAI and 200+ other cryptocurrencies at rates up to 30% below Booking.com. New users can also claim $25 off their first booking.
- On USD.AI, holders mint USDAI 1:1 from USDC or USDT on Arbitrum or Ethereum and can stake it into sUSDai to earn yield from GPU-backed loans.
- USDAI holders can purchase physical collectibles on Polkastarter, from rare trading cards and graded items to sealed products and video games.
- Once USDAI is swapped for USDT, Coinsbee accepts it for gift cards, prepaid services, and mobile top-ups across more than 5,000 brands worldwide.
- CoinTerminal opens up early, risk-free investment opportunities for USDAI holders, with no platform token-staking requirement.
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1. Book Discounted Hotels and Flights With USDAI on Epic
Travel is one of the most practical uses for USDAI in 2026. With Epic, you can book hotels and flights at rates up to 30% below Booking.com.
Across more than 2 million hotels and flights, bookings also earn up to 8% cashback in XRP, giving frequent travellers another way to build on their savings.
For payment, USDAI is used directly at checkout, alongside 200+ other cryptocurrencies.
New users can also get $25 off their first booking.
Book your next hotel for up to 30% less
2. Buy Physical Collectibles With USDAI on Polkastarter
USDAI can also be used to buy physical collectibles through the Polkastarter marketplace, from rare trading cards and graded items to sealed products and video games.
USDAI is not available as a direct payment option, so holders will first need to convert it to a supported asset such as USDC or ETH. You can do this on a decentralised exchange. Then, connect your wallet to Polkastarter, choose a collectible you like, and pay with the swapped crypto.
Have a look through the Polkastarter marketplace to see what's currently available.
3. Stake USDAI for GPU-Backed Yield on USD.AI
USDAI holders can use the token directly on USD.AI, the credit protocol it was created for. Staking it into sUSDai earns yield from loans backed by NVIDIA GPUs and other AI hardware, while idle reserves are held in US Treasury bills.
USDAI itself does not earn yield. It is minted 1:1 from USDC or USDT on Arbitrum or Ethereum, stays redeemable at any time, and is also used on Base and Plasma. Holders can use USDAI or sUSDai to buy CHIP, the protocol's governance token, in the USD.AI app. They can also lock in a fixed rate on sUSDai through Pendle.
Since the PayPal partnership of 18 December 2025, USDAI has been backed by PayPal USD (PYUSD). The protocol's first points season, the Allo Game, rewarded users who minted and staked USDAI in 2025, and CHIP claims for them opened at the end of March 2026.
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4. Join Early-Stage Token Sales With USDAI on CoinTerminal
USDAI holders can also use their stablecoins to join early-stage token sales through CoinTerminal, an open-access launchpad for investing in crypto startups before they are listed on exchanges. There are no platform token-staking requirements, and contributions start from $100.
USDAI is not accepted directly, so holders will first need to swap it for a supported asset such as USDT on a decentralised exchange before entering a sale. All launches are fully refundable, making the investment risk-free.
You can also check CoinTerminal to see which token sales are currently open.
5. Buy Gift Cards and Mobile Top-Ups With USDAI on Coinsbee
Coinsbee gives USDAI holders an easy way to use their crypto for everyday spending. It offers support for over 200 cryptocurrencies, along with gift cards, prepaid services, and mobile top-ups from more than 5,000 brands in 185+ countries.
USDAI is not listed at checkout, so holders first swap it for USDT or USDC on a decentralised exchange. From there, choose a brand and the amount you need, pay with the swapped crypto, and receive the digital code by email.
Browse the full Coinsbee catalogue to see what is available in your country.
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Adrian Baschuk is the chief executive officer of Epic. Adrian has spent two decades in media as a producer, journalist, and founder, and has worked in crypto since 2017. He was a founding partner at Crypto Banter, worked on CNBC's Crypto Trader, and has produced and reported for CNN, Current TV, and Discovery.
His television production credits include Disengagement, South Beach Tow, and Kart Life. He became CEO of Epic in 2025 and leads the company's move into travel, building the first travel layer for crypto.
Based in Miami, Adrian earned a bachelor's degree in international relations from Tufts University.
Frequently Asked Questions
USDai is a synthetic dollar issued by USD.AI, a credit protocol that finances AI infrastructure through GPU-backed loans. USDAI is minted 1:1 from USDC or USDT on Arbitrum, is backed by PayPal USD (PYUSD), and can be staked into sUSDai to earn yield from those loans and US Treasury bills.
USDAI does not currently trade on a centralised spot market. Holders can mint it 1:1 from USDC or USDT in the USD.AI app on Arbitrum or Ethereum. They can also swap for it on a decentralised exchange on Arbitrum, the protocol's hub chain. The token can also be bridged to Base and Plasma.
In December 2025, PayPal and Permian Labs announced that USDAI would be backed by PYUSD, alongside a $1 billion deposit incentive programme. In June 2026, USD.AI funded its largest loan yet, $98.1 million for Duos Edge AI, and on 28 August 2026 it secured a $100 million stablecoin liquidity facility for its loans.
Yes. Epic accepts USDAI and 200+ other cryptocurrencies for hotels and flights across 190+ countries, so you can book at prices up to 30% lower than Booking.com. New users also get $25 off their first booking.
No one can reliably forecast token prices, and we do not offer investment advice. What USDAI is designed for is access to the USD.AI protocol: a stable on-chain dollar backed by PYUSD, the route into sUSDai for yield from GPU-backed loans, and a way to buy CHIP in the USD.AI app.
Found a hotel you like? Book it for up to 30% less
Found a hotel you like? Book it for up to 30% less
