Plasma, a stablecoin startup founded by a former Citibank executive, has raised $20 million in a Series A round led by Thiel-backed Framework Ventures. Other notable investors include Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino and Bitfinex. The funding will support the development of a new blockchain designed specifically for Tether (USDT), built on Bitcoin’s security and offering Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility. Plasma aims to provide ultra-fast, zero-fee USDT transactions, targeting remittances, payments, and DeFi applications. This move reflects growing institutional interest in more scalable, secure stablecoin infrastructure amid increasing global demand for efficient, crypto-based financial solutions tailored for real-world economic use.