The technology stack of Plasma is quite hardcore. It is not a general-purpose chain but a Layer 1 optimized for stablecoin payments and settlements from the ground up, with the mainnet launching in 2025.
The core consensus is PlasmaBFT, an improved version based on the HotStuff protocol: a subset of validators participates in each round of consensus, with low communication overhead to avoid the quadratic complexity of broadcasting to all nodes, achieving sub-second finality (usually <1 second), and TPS easily exceeding a thousand, while tolerating 1/3 Byzantine faults. It is faster and more efficient than traditional BFT.
The security foundation is anchored by Bitcoin: periodically, the on-chain state root (Merkle root and other key data) is inscribed onto the Bitcoin chain via OP_RETURN or dedicated transactions, leveraging Bitcoin’s hash power and censorship resistance for ultimate notarization. Even if Plasma validators collectively act maliciously, they cannot alter history, as the Bitcoin records would expose them. There is also a Bitcoin bridge that uses TSS signatures to achieve non-custodial BTC cross-chain.
The execution layer is fully EVM compatible: developers can directly migrate Ethereum contracts and tools, deploying DeFi, wallets, etc. without any changes. The execution client is optimized based on Reth (high-performance Ethereum execution layer).
The most notable feature is the native design of stablecoins: it innovatively allows zero Gas USDT transfers where users only need to hold USDT, with costs subsidized by the backend of the relayer/paymaster system, making it completely seamless for the frontend. It supports custom gas tokens (whitelisted stablecoins for gas payments) and also includes a confidential transaction module.
The overall architecture is modular: high throughput + low fees + Bitcoin-level security + seamless integration with the Ethereum ecosystem. It’s not just about following trends but genuinely addressing the pain points of expensive, slow, and unsafe stablecoin transfers. If the ecosystem matures further, this set of combinations will be very powerful.
