Plasma, a Layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for stablecoin payments and backed by Bitfinex—Tether’s sister company and investors like Peter Thiel, announced the launch of Plasma One.
Marketed as the world’s first stablecoin-native neobank, this super-app integrates saving, spending, earning yields, and transfers into a single platform, targeting users in emerging markets where access to digital dollars is limited.
Plasma One addresses key barriers in stablecoin adoption, such as fragmented interfaces and reliance on centralized exchanges, by offering localized support, peer-to-peer cash integrations, and borderless services.
CEO Paul Faecks emphasized that “the dollar is the product,” aiming to provide permissionless access for the financially excluded. Early access is staged, starting with high-stablecoin-penetration areas like the Middle East. Plasma’s native token, $XPL, will also debut on September 25, with listings on platforms like Binance Alpha.
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 19 (Feb 9 – May 2, 2026): big discounts for early bird.
Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass opens registrations.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and co-invest in great global startups.
Register for Tekedia AI Lab: From Technical Design to Deployment (next edition begins Jan 24 2026).
A waitlist is now live on plasma.to for interested users. This launch positions Plasma as a full-stack stablecoin platform, blending DeFi efficiency with consumer-friendly tools, and coincides with growing stablecoin demand—USDT supply recently hit new highs signaling market optimism.
World Liberty Financial Prepares Debit Card and Retail App Launch
During Korea Blockchain Week, co-founder Zak Folkman revealed that World Liberty Financial (WLFI)—a DeFi platform launched in September 2024 with backing from the Trump family—will soon roll out a debit card and retail app.
These products aim to mainstream WLFI’s USD1 stablecoin by enabling everyday spending and blending payments with trading, without building a proprietary blockchain. Folkman stressed a “chain-agnostic” approach, focusing on cross-platform distribution.
The announcements follow WLFI’s MOU with South Korea’s Bithumb exchange to explore joint opportunities, though specifics remain unclear. This push into consumer tools could accelerate USD1 adoption, positioning WLFI as a bridge between DeFi and traditional finance amid rising stablecoin interest.
These launches prioritize financial inclusion in underserved regions, where stablecoins already serve as lifelines against inflation and currency volatility. Plasma One targets emerging markets like Istanbul, Dubai, and Buenos Aires, offering zero-fee USDT transfers and 10%+ APY yields to exporters and store owners reliant on cash shops for dollars.
WLFI, with its USD1 stablecoin, extends this via Apple Pay-integrated debit cards for seamless crypto-to-fiat spending at retailers worldwide. Collectively, they could accelerate stablecoin circulation, boosting U.S. Treasury holdings as stablecoins are often backed by T-bills and indirectly lowering global interest rates by increasing dollar liquidity.
Both platforms emphasize seamless integration, but Plasma One stands out as a vertically integrated Layer 1 solution with its mainnet beta launching September 25, 2025 and native $XPL token for governance and staking.
This enables omnichain USDT0 for fee-free bridging, enhancing DeFi efficiency without added risk. WLFI, conversely, adopts a “chain-agnostic” strategy, avoiding its own blockchain to leverage existing ecosystems like Ethereum and Solana for broader interoperability.
Plasma could pioneer specialized stablecoin rails, while WLFI’s app fosters a super-app model blending Web2 familiarity (e.g., Apple Pay) with DeFi, potentially onboarding non-crypto natives faster.
Stablecoin neobanks invite scrutiny under frameworks like the U.S. GENIUS Act and EU’s MiCA, which mandate reserves and licensing to curb illicit finance. Plasma’s Tether ties and $423M funding bolster compliance credibility, but high yields could draw yield-sustainability probes.
WLFI faces amplified risks from Trump family involvement, potentially fueling perceptions of political favoritism or conflicts amid U.S. elections—exacerbated by its $550M+ raise and Bithumb MOU for Korean expansion. Both amplify illicit finance concerns if not monitored, yet their consumer focus could set positive precedents for regulated innovation.
These entries intensify competition in a $172B+ USDT-dominated space, where stablecoin supply signals bull runs. Plasma’s $XPL debut pre-market $4.5B-$7.6B valuation and DeFi integrations position it as a full-stack contender against fragmented apps, potentially capturing 150M+ merchant spends.
WLFI’s tools could revive its underperforming $WLFI token by adding real utility, differentiating from memecoin hype via audited USD1 backing. Together, they validate stablecoins as “the product” for global finance, spurring rivals like EtherFi’s neobank pivot.
In sum, these launches could mainstream stablecoins as borderless dollars, empowering the excluded but testing ecosystems’ resilience. Plasma leans infrastructural for long-term scalability; WLFI bets on accessibility for rapid uptake.