Trump Considers Stablecoin to Rebuild Gaza: Board of Peace Bets on Crypto

The intersection between geopolitics and cryptocurrencies is taking an unprecedented turn. Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace,” the organization tasked with overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction, is seriously studying the introduction of a stablecoin backed by the US dollar for the territory’s residents. This initiative, revealed by the Financial Times on February 23, 2026, would mark the first attempt to rebuild a post-conflict economy using digital monetary infrastructure. As Gaza’s banking system remains paralyzed after years of conflict, this proposal raises as many hopes as it does profound ethical questions. An analysis of a project that could redefine the role of cryptocurrencies in crisis zones.

The Board of Peace: A Controversial International Governance

Composition and Mission of the Organization

The Board of Peace, inaugurated on February 19, 2026, in Washington, represents the central pillar of Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza. Chaired by the American president himself, this organization brings together leading international figures: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank. Its mission covers three essential areas: transitional governance of the territory, reconstruction planning, and economic revival. The Board also coordinates its actions with a Palestinian technocratic committee responsible for restoring essential services and managing daily administration.

A Colossal Financial Commitment

At the inaugural meeting, Trump announced a US commitment of $10 billion, supplemented by more than $1 billion pledged by other council member countries. However, this allocation has not been formally approved by the US Congress, which alone is authorized to approve such expenditures, raising questions about the legality of this promise.

A Stablecoin to Address Banking Collapse

The Monetary Crisis in Gaza

Since the beginning of the conflict in October 2023, Gaza’s financial system has suffered considerable damage. ATMs have been destroyed, and Israel has restricted the entry of physical shekels into the territory. Although some banks reopened in late 2025, most struggle to provide cash to their customers. This shortage has naturally pushed Gazans toward digital payments. According to on-chain data, more than $100 million has already transited via stablecoins in the region, without strict supervision. It is in this context that the idea of an official stablecoin emerged.

Project Architecture

According to five sources familiar with the discussions interviewed by the Financial Times, the envisioned stablecoin would be:

• Pegged to the US dollar to guarantee value stability
• Designed as a “digital transaction medium,” not as a new Palestinian sovereign currency
• Jointly governed by the Board of Peace and Gaza’s interim technocratic administration

A source close to the discussions clarified: “This will not be a ‘Gaza Coin’ or a new Palestinian currency, but a means allowing Gazans to conduct transactions digitally.”

The Technology Players Behind the Project

Liran Tancman: From Intelligence to Reconstruction

The technical development of the stablecoin is led by Liran Tancman, co-founder of the Israeli Cyber Command and former Israeli intelligence officer. He also co-founded the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a humanitarian aid organization that has faced strong criticism for its management under American and Israeli influence. Tancman now leads the efforts of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), an entity working under the aegis of the Board of Peace. He detailed his ambitions to modernize the territory’s digital infrastructure last week.

An Ambitious Technological Vision

Among the projects announced by Tancman:

• Upgrading the 2G network to free broadband access by July 2026
• Creating a “secure digital backbone” enabling electronic payments, financial services, e-learning, and healthcare
• Developing an “Amazon-type” logistics system to facilitate trade and imports

“We are advancing an Amazon-type logistics system to help Palestinians launch businesses, import globally, and trade securely,” Tancman said.

Troubling Connections with the Trump Crypto Ecosystem

Tether and Howard Lutnick

If the Board of Peace decided to promote an existing stablecoin, Tether (USDT) would be an obvious candidate. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick maintains deep ties with this cryptocurrency: his company Cantor Fitzgerald holds a 5% stake in Tether. Although Lutnick has personally divested, his sons Brandon and Kyle now run the firm.

World Liberty Financial: The Trump Family’s Stablecoin

Another option would be USD1, the stablecoin from World Liberty Financial, co-founded by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. This token, intended to be pegged to the dollar, experienced a notable incident on February 24: it briefly lost its peg, dropping to $0.994 before stabilizing. The company attributed this episode to the hacking of co-founders’ accounts.

Ethical and Geopolitical Concerns

The Specter of Financial Surveillance

The introduction of a digital currency controlled by an international body raises major concerns. Every transaction could be traced, and access to funds could potentially be restricted or revoked by governance authorities. This prospect fuels criticism from those who see it as a tool for surveillance and control rather than an instrument of economic liberation. In a territory already marked by restrictions on movement and access, adding a layer of digital financial control raises questions.

Economic Fragmentation and Sovereignty

The introduction of a separate payment system for Gaza also risks widening the economic gap with the West Bank, further fragmenting Palestinian territories. Moreover, the absence of a clear regulatory framework in Gaza complicates the prospect of secure deployment, particularly in terms of anti-money laundering measures. Observers point out that the dominance of American stablecoins in the global market could give Washington additional indirect financial influence over the region.

Considerable Technical Obstacles

Gaza’s telecommunications infrastructure, limited to slow and unreliable 2G connections, constitutes a major barrier to digital currency adoption. This limitation, imposed by Israel officially to target Hamas, directly affects the territory’s 2 million inhabitants.

A Global Precedent for Cryptocurrencies

Crypto as a Reconstruction Tool

If this project succeeds, it would represent a world first: the use of digital monetary infrastructure to rebuild a post-conflict economy. This experiment could serve as a model—or a counter-example—for similar situations in the future. Project supporters highlight its potential benefits: facilitated humanitarian aid delivery, simplified salary payments, daily transactions possible even without functioning banks, and increased transparency in aid distribution.

A Still Hypothetical Project

At this stage, the stablecoin for Gaza remains exploratory. No issuer has been designated, no deployment timeline has been communicated, and the technical architecture remains unclear. Nevertheless, the project crystallizes a notable evolution: stablecoins are no longer just market instruments, but tools envisioned for reconstruction and geopolitical influence issues. Between financial innovation and regulatory constraints, the future of this initiative will depend as much on political choices as on the supervision guarantees that will be put in place.