Plasma’s Bold Move with NEAR Intents: Is This the Future of Massive Stablecoin Settlements?
Ever wonder what happens when a stablecoin-focused blockchain teams up with one of the fastest-growing cross-chain protocols out there? Well, Plasma, a layer-one blockchain built with stablecoins in mind, just plugged into NEAR Intents’ mind-boggling liquidity network—a sprawling pool boasting over 25 blockchains and 125 digital assets. Imagine XPL, Plasma’s native token, and its USDT0 stablecoin diving headfirst into this vibrant ecosystem, backed by the heavy hitters like Framework Ventures, Bitfinex, and none other than Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about hooking into a system where a jaw-dropping 39% of cross-chain swaps involve Tether’s USDT in the last day alone. This integration is more than a technical feat—it’s a strategic leap aligning high-performance infrastructure with a bustling, multi-blockchain world. Curious how this symbiotic relationship might reshape stablecoin swaps and DeFi liquidity? Let’s unwrap the layers. LEARN MORE.
Key Notes
- Plasma joins over 25 blockchains in NEAR Intents’ chain-abstracted liquidity pool with native token XPL and USDT0 stablecoin.
- The integration leverages Plasma’s high-performance infrastructure backed by Framework Ventures, Bitfinex, and Peter Thiel from a $24M funding round.
- NEAR Intents processes significant USDT volume with 39% of cross-chain transactions involving Tether in the last 24 hours.
Plasma—a purpose-built layer-one (L1) blockchain for stablecoins—has integrated NEAR Intents for large-volume stablecoin cross-chain settlements and swaps, joining a list of more than 25 other networks. Plasma got popular mostly due to Tether and Peter Thiel, a PayPal co-founder, backing, having a strong focus on efficient USDT operations.
The integration was announced on Jan. 23 with social media activity from both Plasma and the NEAR Protocol. With that, Plasma’s native token, XPL, and the USDT0 stablecoin have joined a chain-abstracted liquidity pool of more than 125 other digital assets running in over 25 blockchains.
Plasma is now live on NEAR Intents.
Users can seamlessly swap 125+ assets across 25+ major chains to and from Plasma’s native token XPL.
USDT0 deposits and withdrawals on @Plasma are also now supported via the NEAR Intents app. https://t.co/CITya0itE4 pic.twitter.com/R3yuuJwIFR
— NEAR Protocol (@NEARProtocol) January 23, 2026
In early 2025 Plasma raised $24 million in a private funding round led by Framework Ventures, with contributions from Bitfinex, Peter Thiel, and Paolo Ardoino. Thiel was also named one of the project’s advisors, leveraging his expertise co-founding PayPal.
Since then, the high-performance, purpose-built L1 has made significant movements in the crypto industry, as Coinspeaker covered. In September 2025, they unveiled Plasma One, a stablecoin-native neobank and card system offering 10%+ yields and 4% cashback across 150 countries. Later in October, the project integrated Chainlink after reaching a milestone of $6 billion in stablecoins running onchain.
What NEAR Intents Unlocks for Plasma
NEAR Intents is a cross-chain protocol developed by the NEAR-based Aurora team, running an MPC network of market makers called “solvers,” who read and solve users’ intents across different systems and chains. It has reportedly been the fastest-growing cross-chain protocol in 2025 and received relevant industry-level recognition, with honorable mentions and awards, as Coinspeaker reported when the protocol surpassed $10 billion in total volume.
Data from Dune Analytics’ NEAR Intents dashboard shows that 39% of the cross-chain volume in the last 24 hours belongs to transactions involving Tether’s USDT, Plasma’s main focus. Moreover, the protocol had more than half a million unique addresses in the last 30 days.
NEAR Intents onchain data as of Jan. 23, 2026 | Source: Dune Analytics Dashboard
By integrating—and being integrated by—NEAR Intents, Plasma leverages its high-performance infrastructure, backed by industry leaders, connecting it with the broader crypto ecosystem and other leading blockchain networks and communities of builders and users.
“Plasma builders can now integrate NEAR Intents directly into their products using the 1Click Swap API, giving users frictionless access to assets and unified liquidity across 25+ blockchain ecosystems,” NEAR Protocol account on X wrote earlier on Jan. 23.
Disclaimer: Coinspeaker is committed to providing unbiased and transparent reporting. This article aims to deliver accurate and timely information but should not be taken as financial or investment advice. Since market conditions can change rapidly, we encourage you to verify information on your own and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.
Vini Barbosa has covered the crypto industry professionally since 2020, summing up to over 10,000 hours of research, writing, and editing related content for media outlets and key industry players. Vini is an active commentator and a heavy user of the technology, truly believing in its revolutionary potential. Topics of interest include blockchain, open-source software, decentralized finance, and real-world utility.
