Medici Level Up with Paul Faecks, Founder of Plasma

In this episode of Level Up, David and Sean speak with Paul Faecks, Founder of Plasma, a stablecoin-focused Layer 1 blockchain. Paul shares his background in early crypto/DeFi, why Plasma is optimized for stablecoin payments, and how Plasma One (a stablecoin neobank with cards and ramps) is intended to drive long-term value beyond blockchain fees. They also discuss token value accrual, validator decentralization, regulatory risks, and more.  View the Full Level Up Podcast Disclaimer Here: https://level-up-podcast-disclaimer.super.site/   Key Points From This Episode: [00:00:00] Introduction [00:12:48] Paul’s background and thesis behind Plasma [00:15:12] Regulatory landscape and stablecoin adoption outlook [00:18:41] Deep dive into Plasma One’s neo banking model [00:19:59] Why a dedicated stablecoin blockchain is necessary [00:21:41] Gasless USDT transfers and paymaster design [00:23:06] KPIs, incentives reduction, and focus on sustainable growth [00:25:09] Productizing stablecoins across global markets [00:28:24] Key jurisdictions: Turkey, Middle East, and South America [00:29:44] Stablecoins as a geopolitical advantage for the U.S. [00:30:19] Plasma One’s target users and business model [00:32:28] End-to-end infrastructure for cross-border payments [00:33:02] Token value accrual and foundation ownership structure [00:35:05] Competition with Stripe’s Tempo and other players [00:40:26] Distribution strategy vs. legacy players like Western Union [00:42:17] Exchange-to-exchange USDT settlement flows [00:45:13] Paymasters and abstracted gas fees [00:47:44] Why gas fees alone don’t create long-term token value [00:48:41] What makes an L1 token investable [00:52:07] Validator rollout and decentralization roadmap [00:53:41] Echo pre-deposit launch and token sale structure [00:57:25] Fundraising history and major investors [01:00:06] Regulatory risks and market infrastructure bill [01:01:45] Final thoughts: Stablecoins and 2026 outlook  Links:  The Medici Network: https://www.medici.network/   Podcast Site: https://levelup.medici.network/   Plasma: https://www.plasma.to/    Interested in being a Guest? Connect with Elmira on X: https://x.com/elmira_yilham     Co-Hosts  David Grider, Finality Capital - https://x.com/David_Grid  Sean Farrell, Fundstrat Global Advisors - https://x.com/SeanMFarrell    Guest  Paul Faecks, Plasma  X - https://x.com/pauliepunt?lang=en LinkedIn - https://de.linkedin.com/in/paul-f-540895a4/en   Production and editing by The Podcast Consultant  - https://thepodcastconsultant.com/