PUSD has deployed on ADI Chain, adding a UAE-focused institutional Layer-2 network to a multichain footprint already spanning Ethereum, BNB Chain, Solana and Tron. The stablecoin, described in market coverage as Shariah-compliant and backed 1:1 by reserves in Saudi riyals and UAE dirhams, has about $2.3 billion in circulation and is being positioned as a Gulf-currency settlement rail for institutions.
The strategic pitch is clear: PUSD is trying to sit between dollar-linked stablecoin demand and regional currency alignment. Because the Saudi riyal and UAE dirham are effectively pegged to the U.S. dollar, the token can be marketed as dollar-adjacent while still emphasizing Gulf reserve backing and Shariah compatibility. That makes the ADI Chain deployment relevant for cross-border payments across the Gulf, wider Middle East and parts of Africa, where Islamic finance and regulated settlement infrastructure overlap.
A regulated rail for dual-asset settlement
ADI Chain’s role is not simply to add another venue for PUSD transfers. The integration creates a shared infrastructure layer where institutions can choose between PUSD and dirham-backed tokens such as DDSC and USDU, giving counterparties more flexibility in how they denominate and settle regional flows. Reports describe ADI Chain as an institutional payments network linked to UAE-regulated infrastructure and designed for Middle East settlement use cases.
That design gives PUSD a differentiated market angle, but not an automatic liquidity advantage. The hard test will be whether the token can generate transaction volume rather than only network availability. Deeply liquid dollar stablecoins such as USDT and USDC still dominate global stablecoin settlement, which means PUSD must prove that Gulf reserve backing, Shariah positioning and ADI Chain access are enough to attract recurring institutional flow.
Compliance credentials will determine adoption
The Islamic finance opportunity is large, with market commentary pointing to a target sector of more than $3 trillion in assets, but the compliance bar is also higher. PUSD’s appeal rests on its claim to Shariah compatibility, yet cross-border adoption will likely require recognized certification, transparent reserves and jurisdiction-specific comfort around stablecoin treatment. Intellectia.AI noted that PUSD has not secured broader independent compliance certification or regulatory approval beyond its design and UAE framework, a gap that could slow uptake outside friendly venues.
The practical diligence checklist is therefore straightforward. Liquidity depth, exchange listings, reserve transparency, Shariah certification and ADI Chain transaction volume will matter more than the headline deployment size. If those indicators improve, PUSD could become a useful Gulf-currency settlement instrument for compliant cross-border flows. If they do not, the deployment may remain a niche integration inside a market still dominated by incumbent dollar stablecoins.
The broader takeaway is that the UAE’s digital-asset strategy is moving from licensing posture to settlement infrastructure. PUSD’s arrival on ADI Chain gives regional institutions another regulated rail to test, but the next phase will be measured in flows, not announcements.
