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.
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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/