Atlas Launches USAFi: First Regulated Permissionless Security Backed by SEC-Registered ETF
USAFi’s collateral is the Atlas America Fund, a Nasdaq‑listed, SEC‑registered ETF trading under the ticker USAF. The fund’s assets are custodied by the Bank of New York, and according to Atlas’s whitepaper, it has delivered an 11.11 % return over the past 19 months, with a volatility of 5.47 % and a Sharpe ratio of 0.55. Holders of the token can trade the underlying collateral around the clock in a permissionless environment while still enjoying the regulatory safeguards that come with a registered ETF.
The initiative underscores Dubai’s growing reputation as a digital‑finance hub. VARA’s Asset‑Referenced Virtual Asset Rulebook, which governs tokens like USAFi, mandates issuers to publish a whitepaper, disclose reserve assets, and maintain prudent asset management. Atlas says it has met all of VARA’s requirements, positioning USAFi as a bridge between traditional capital markets and decentralized finance.
Co‑author of the whitepaper, Dr. Nouriel Roubini—long a vocal critic of cryptocurrencies—shared his perspective in a statement: “We are living through the most dangerous period for savers in a generation. Trade wars, the threat of conflict in the world’s critical shipping lanes, sanctions, and persistent inflation all quietly erode the value of what people have put away, and they sit outside any individual’s control. For years I argued that most digital assets offered no protection from this, because they had no real assets behind them. What Atlas has built is different: a reserve diversified across Treasuries, gold, food and strategic commodities, defense, cyber, and other industries being reshaped by AI. It is designed to hold value when any single market breaks, which is what you want in a period defined by shocks rather than calm. That is why I have moved from criticism to participation.”
Reza Bundy, CEO and Chairman of Atlas Capital Team Inc. and CEO of Atlas AI Labs, added: “The dollar has taken two forms in modern history, and it is now taking a third. There was the Gold Dollar, backed by the promise to swap dollars for gold. Then the Petrodollar, backed by the world’s need to buy oil in dollars. We call what comes next the Technodollar: a digital dollar reserve backed not by a single commodity but by a broad claim on America’s most productive companies in the industries AI is now transforming. USAFi is the first instrument built to that definition.”
Bundy’s remarks frame USAFi as part of Atlas’s broader “Technodollar” strategy. The company says it will use artificial intelligence to manage the underlying portfolio within the rules set by an Investment Committee, and then tokenize the resulting asset for on‑chain trading.
The announcement also highlights Dubai’s regulatory clarity. Roubini noted that VARA “has developed a framework that embraces responsible innovation while maintaining the transparency and investor protection that institutional markets require.” He added that jurisdictions offering clear regulation are likely to attract the next generation of capital, talent, and infrastructure.
USAFi’s launch will be the first instance of a regulated, permissionless security under VARA’s framework. The token’s design seeks to combine the liquidity and accessibility of a permissionless chain with the stability and oversight of a registered ETF. If the project succeeds, it could set a precedent for other regulated digital assets that aim to bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized ecosystems.
The project remains in development, and the exact launch date within Q3 2026 has not been specified. Atlas has not yet disclosed the token’s supply, distribution mechanism, or pricing strategy, nor announced any partnerships or exchanges that will list USAFi.
As of June 22 2026, the whitepaper and the company’s statements remain the primary sources of information about USAFi. No independent audit of the underlying ETF’s holdings or the token’s smart‑contract code has been released.
In summary, Atlas Capital Team Inc. is preparing to introduce USAFi, a permissionless ERC‑20 token backed by a Nasdaq‑listed ETF, under Dubai’s VARA regulatory regime. The initiative brings together a high‑profile economist, a regulated asset, and a permissionless blockchain platform in an attempt to create a new class of digital reserve asset that could appeal to institutional investors seeking regulated exposure to on‑chain markets.
Net, as of June 22, 2026. Past performance does not guarantee future results.