Playbook 01

Your First USDM

From fiat to self-custody in one afternoon.

Level
Beginner
Time
~30 min
Minimum
~$100
Risk
None (onboarding only)

The onboarding journey every Cardano DeFi participant starts with — explained end-to-end, with the jurisdiction and wallet choices made explicit.

Why this playbook exists

Before any of the other Coalition playbooks will work for you, you need USDM in a wallet you control. This guide gets you there cleanly, without the guesswork of figuring out which on-ramp, which wallet, and which jurisdiction applies to you.

USDM is a fiat-backed stablecoin, issued by Moneta Digital with NBX as co-issuer, implemented as a Cardano-native asset. Every USDM is 1:1 backed by reserves. This playbook ends the moment you hold USDM in a self-custodial Cardano wallet — that is the starting line for everything else the Coalition publishes.

What you'll need before starting

  • A valid government ID (KYC is required on both minting paths)
  • An email address and a device you trust
  • ~$100+ to start (no minimum is published, but small amounts are fine for a first run)
  • 20–30 minutes of uninterrupted time

Choose your path

There are two supported paths to your first USDM. Pick based on what you already hold.

Path A — You hold fiat (EUR, NOK, USD)

Use NBX (Norwegian Block Exchange). NBX is USDM’s co-issuer and serves users across the EU and 150+ additional countries. The simplest path for most people new to crypto.

Path B — You already hold USDC, USDT, or PYUSD

Mint USDM directly through the Moneta Digital issuance portal. Moneta accepts USDC, USDT, and PYUSD for minting — your stablecoins come in, USDM comes out. Faster if you’re already in crypto.

Path A

Buy USDM via NBX (fiat → USDM)

1

Create an NBX account.

Go to NBX and register with your email. Accept the terms.

2

Complete KYC.

NBX will request your name, address, date of birth, a government ID, and run standard sanctions screening. This is non-negotiable — both regulated issuance and your own long-term account access depend on it.

3

Link a funding source.

NBX supports bank transfer in NOK, EUR, and USD. Fund your NBX account. First deposits may sit behind a short fraud-mitigation hold before they clear.

4

Buy USDM.

Once funds clear, buy USDM on NBX at the prevailing rate.

5

Move USDM to self-custody.

Keeping USDM on an exchange is fine for short-term trading — it is not fine for the Coalition playbooks. Continue to the “Set up self-custody” section below.

Path B

Mint USDM via Moneta Digital (USDC/USDT/PYUSD → USDM)

1

Register and complete KYC/KYB.

Moneta runs full identity verification: ID, address, DOB, sanctions screening, risk questionnaires. Identity data is encrypted and retained only as required by law.

2

Link your crypto funding.

Deposit USDC, USDT, or PYUSD from your existing wallet into your Moneta account.

3

Mint.

Once the deposit clears, request USDM minting. You receive Cardano-native USDM.

4

Withdraw to self-custody.

Withdraw USDM directly to your Cardano wallet address (see below).

Set up self-custody

USDM lives on Cardano. You need a Cardano wallet. The Coalition does not formally endorse any single wallet, but the following are widely used by USDM holders and support full send/receive of native assets:

  • Eternl — feature-rich, browser and mobile
  • Lace — clean, official IOG wallet
  • Flint, GeroWallet, Vespr, Begin — all supported

Setup checklist

  1. Install the wallet from the official source. Double-check URLs.
  2. Create a new wallet. Write down the 24-word seed phrase on paper. Never take a photo of it. Never type it into anything except the wallet itself.
  3. Verify the seed phrase when prompted.
  4. Copy your receive address.
  5. Send a small test amount first (e.g. 1 USDM). Confirm arrival. Only then send the rest.

Outcome

You now hold USDM in a wallet only you control. This is the finish line of this playbook.

What to do next

Risks & Disclosures

Custody risk on exchanges.
While USDM sits on NBX or in your Moneta account, you do not hold the private keys. Move to self-custody as soon as you're ready.
Seed phrase loss.
If you lose your 24-word phrase, your funds are unrecoverable. Store it offline, in at least two physical locations.
Phishing.
Only ever install wallets from official sources. Coalition staff will never DM you asking for seed phrases or private keys.
Regulatory change.
USDM's availability in your jurisdiction may change. Review NBX's and Moneta's terms for your country.

Full risk disclosures at /risks.

Glossary References

See the Coalition Glossary for: USDM, Stablecoin, KYC, Self-custody, Cardano-native asset, NBX, Moneta Digital.