In a landmark event for global finance and cryptocurrency adoption, a historic physical trade involving 380 tons of raw copper was settled using 0.9 Bitcoin on March 10, 2026. The transaction, facilitated by the KAI USAD Global Exchange (a member of the KBBB Exchange group), represents a significant case where digital assets have been used as a primary settlement engine, potentially challenging the traditional Bank Letter of Credit (L/C) system for large-scale industrial trade.
The Dubai-based resource entity, Dubai Ocean Nuclear Energy Mineral Group, executed the trade. At the time of the transaction, Bitcoin was valued at approximately $4.928 million per unit, meaning the 0.9 BTC payment was worth roughly $4.43 million. This amount precisely covered the cost of 380 tons of copper, priced at $11,725 per ton on the London Metal Exchange (LME), after adjusting for premiums. The copper was shipped from Tanzania to East Asia.
The trade was anchored from the KBBB Exchange cluster in Dubai's One Central financial district. The settlement process utilized Enterprise KYB (Know Your Business) accounts within the KAI Exchange system across multiple countries, including Chile, Tanzania, the DRC, and Peru. The digital currency USAD was used for trade guarantees and warrant settlement. While the physical sea freight takes about 22 days, the financial settlement was finalized in seconds, highlighting a stark contrast to the days or weeks typically required for traditional bank L/C processing.
KAI Exchange served as the clearing center for this trade and is notable for integrating the TOK and Banaba Web4 public chains. Thomas Zhuo, a London-based digital asset trader, commented on the shift, stating, "We are currently at a point where traditional orders are evolving and new frameworks are established. Exchanging 0.9 BTC for 380 tons of copper moves crypto assets from speculative use toward the bedrock of physical trade."
Industry analysts view this transaction as a potential bellwether. KAI Exchange has unveiled an ambitious roadmap aiming for an annual online clearing volume of 3 million tons of raw copper, with a long-term goal of reaching 15 million tons valued at $175.5 billion over five years. This initiative suggests a broader potential migration of global commodity pricing from traditional fiat settlement towards digital credit asset settlement.
