What is Plasma? How It Works & Where to Use It

Overview

Plasma at a glance.

Plasma launched its mainnet beta in September 2025 as a Layer 1 designed around stablecoin payments rather than general-purpose computation. It pairs a Byzantine fault tolerant consensus with an EVM-compatible execution layer, and a protocol-level paymaster lets users send stablecoins such as USDT without first acquiring the native XPL token. Here is how it works and what it is used for, not the price.

Total value locked (DeFi)

n/a

Value locked in DeFi protocols on Plasma. Updated Jun 8, 2026. Source: DefiLlama.

Native token

XPL

Used for fees and securing the network. See the live XPL price.

How it works

How Plasma works.

Plasma uses PlasmaBFT, a Byzantine fault tolerant consensus based on the HotStuff protocol and written in Rust. Validators stake XPL and take part in producing and finalizing blocks, with the network reaching deterministic finality in under a second rather than waiting for probabilistic confirmation. Its execution layer is built on Reth, a Rust implementation of the Ethereum Virtual Machine, so it stays compatible with Ethereum tooling.

Consensus: PlasmaBFT

Plasma uses PlasmaBFT, a Byzantine fault tolerant consensus based on the HotStuff protocol and written in Rust. Validators stake XPL and take part in producing and finalizing blocks, with the network reaching deterministic finality in under a second rather than waiting for probabilistic confirmation. Its execution layer is built on Reth, a Rust implementation of the Ethereum Virtual Machine, so it stays compatible with Ethereum tooling.

Stablecoin-first design

Plasma is built around moving stablecoins. A protocol-level paymaster can sponsor the gas for basic USDT transfers, so a new user can send a stablecoin without first holding the native token.

Gas in stablecoins

Beyond sponsored transfers, fees for other actions can be paid in approved tokens including stablecoins, removing the need to hold a separate gas token for routine payments.

EVM compatibility

The execution layer is EVM-compatible through Reth, so Ethereum contracts and developer tools work on Plasma with little or no modification.

Bitcoin bridge

A trust-minimized bridge lets users deposit Bitcoin and represent it on Plasma, connecting BTC liquidity to the chain stablecoin and DeFi activity.

Ecosystem & usage

What Plasma is used for.

Plasma is used for stablecoin transfers and payments, with EVM-compatible DeFi protocols deploying on the network since launch.

Stablecoin payments

Send stablecoins such as USDT between accounts, with basic transfers able to be sponsored so the sender does not need the native token.

Remittances and transfers

The low-cost, fast-finality design targets moving value across borders using stablecoins as the unit of transfer.

EVM DeFi

Lending, trading, and other EVM applications run on Plasma using existing Ethereum contract tooling.

In Zypto App

Hold, swap and spend XPL.

Plasma is integrated in Zypto App. Hold XPL in self-custody, swap it to any supported asset, and use it across Zypto’s features.

Hold XPL in Zypto How to buy XPL

Be the reason Plasma ships next.

Plasma isn’t in Zypto App yet. Post the request to your followers, chains with the most demand get prioritised.

Request on X

FAQ

Common questions.

What is Plasma?

Plasma is a Layer 1 blockchain built around stablecoin payments. It uses PlasmaBFT consensus and an EVM-compatible execution layer, and its native token is XPL.

Can I send USDT on Plasma without holding XPL?

Yes. A protocol-level paymaster can sponsor the gas for basic USDT transfers, so a user can send stablecoins without first acquiring the native token. Other actions may require a fee paid in an approved token.

What is XPL used for?

XPL is the native token. It is used to stake for validating, to pay fees for actions that are not sponsored, and for governance.

Is Plasma compatible with Ethereum?

Yes. Plasma uses an EVM-compatible execution layer built on Reth, so Ethereum smart contracts and developer tools work on the network with little or no change.

Can I hold XPL in Zypto App?

Not yet. XPL isn't in Zypto App at the moment. You can hold it in any self-custodial wallet, and you can ask us to add Plasma using the "Request Plasma" button above.

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