Plasma News Today: Plasma's Low-Cost Stablecoins Reshape DeFi, Overtaking Tron in TVL

Plasma's total value locked (TVL) surged 17% in 24 hours, reaching $6.32 billion and surpassing Tron ($6.30 billion), Base ($5.39 billion), and Arbitrum ($4.07 billion), according to DeFiLlama data. The network now ranks as the fifth-largest blockchain by DeFi TVL, driven by rapid capital inflows into its stablecoin ecosystem. Plasma's bridged TVL stood at $6.33 billion, with stablecoin market capitalization hitting $63 million, reflecting growing liquidity adoption. The network hosts 39 active protocols, generating $49,422 in daily chain fees and posting a 12% growth in the past week, signaling increased usage and investor confidence.

The TVL surge follows months of strategic development in the stablecoin sector, leveraging Plasma's low-cost architecture and integrations with major wallets. DeFi participants have migrated liquidity from higher-fee alternatives like Tron, drawn by Plasma's zero-fee USDT transfers and fast settlement rails. This shift positions Plasma as a key player in global stablecoin infrastructure, challenging incumbents like Base and Arbitrum, which have struggled to match its inflow pace.

A critical catalyst was Plasma's partnership with Trust Wallet, announced last week, enabling 210 million users to send, receive, and manage stablecoins directly on Plasma's chain. The integration supports instant, zero-fee USDT transfers, expanding accessibility for users in emerging markets where stablecoins function as everyday savings tools. This move aligns with broader trends in blockchain infrastructure, where Plasma's focus on low-cost, high-throughput transactions is reshaping the DeFi landscape.

Plasma's TVL growth contrasts with Tron's $76 billion stablecoin TVL, though Tron's deep integration with centralized exchanges and years of network effects create a formidable moat. However, Plasma's EVM compatibility and zero-fee model have attracted major DeFi protocols like Aave and Curve, offering a competitive edge in on-chain activity. Analysts note that while Tron dominates USDT trading and storage, Plasma's architecture better suits high-volume, low-cost payments, a growing use case in emerging markets.

The TVL surge has also been accompanied by volatility in Plasma's native token, XPL, which surged 17% to $1.09 in 24 hours amid aggressive exchange campaigns and staking incentives. Despite a 32% drop from its all-time high of $1.68, XPL's market cap remains at $1.86 billion, with 24-hour trading volume rising 80% to $4.45 billion. However, derivatives open interest dipped slightly, suggesting potential profit-taking after the mainnet launch.

Looking ahead, Plasma's TVL trajectory will depend on sustaining daily active addresses (currently 878,000) and maintaining TVL above $5 billion post-incentive waves. The network's focus on stablecoin-native infrastructure, including partnerships with Chainlink and plans for tokenized equities, underscores its long-term vision. While short-term price corrections remain a risk, the TVL growth and ecosystem expansion suggest Plasma is positioning itself as a foundational layer for stablecoin activity.

: Cryptotimes.io (https://www.cryptotimes.io/2025/10/09/plasmas-tvl-surges-17-24-hours-beating-tron-base-and-arbitrum/)

: Coinpedia.org (https://coinpedia.org/price-analysis/plasma-xpl-price-soars-17-can-bulls-sustain-above-1/)

: Gate.com (https://www.gate.com/news/detail/13978591)