Plasma to Launch Mainnet Beta Blockchain for Stablecoins Next Week

Plasma, a new blockchain built specifically for stablecoins, is set to flip the switch on its long-awaited mainnet beta next week, introducing the chain and its native token, XPL, on Sept. 25.

According to a blog post from the team, the network will debut with more than $2 billion in stablecoin liquidity from over a hundred partners on day one — an aggressive attempt to position Plasma not as just another general-purpose chain, but as the backbone for stablecoin transfers.

That won’t be an easy feat. Ethereum and Solana already dominate stablecoin volumes, while newer chains continue to optimize for similar flows. Plasma’s bet is that its architecture, dubbed PlasmaBFT, will give it an edge. The system is designed for fast, composable stablecoin transactions the team said, and from launch, users will be able to move USDT with zero fees through Plasma’s dashboard — a feature the team hopes will stand out in a crowded DeFi landscape.

Token distribution is also aimed at broad accessibility. Prior to launch, 10% of XPL was sold in a public offering. At launch, 25 million tokens will be allocated to the community, with another 2.5 million reserved for members of the so-called Stablecoin Collective.

Backing the project are heavyweights from the crypto and venture worlds: the $24 million in seed and Series A funding was led by Framework Ventures, with participation from Bitfinex, Peter Thiel and Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, among others.

“Plasma’s mission is to become the foundation for global money movement. Mainnet beta is the next step in making that vision real,” the team wrote.

Read more: Peter Thiel-Backed Plasma Raises $20M to Develop Bitcoin-Based Network for Stablecoins