When a new L1 launches, I usually ignore it until I see one thing: Blue Chip DeFi protocols.
Anyone can fork a code and launch a "swap," but getting giants like Aave and Ethena to deploy on your chain takes months of audits and trust. That is why I’m paying attention to the @Plasma ecosystem right now.
The "Safety" Signal
Seeing Ethena (USDe) live on Plasma is a massive signal. It means the big smart contract auditors have signed off on the architecture. It validates that the Reth execution client (which Plasma is built on) is stable enough for billions in liquidity.
The Yield Play
With Aave now live, we are finally seeing a real yield market for USDT0. This isn't some sketchy "farm" with 10,000% APY that rug pulls in a week. This is institutional-grade lending on a zero-fee rail.
Why it matters
For the first time, you can move stablecoins into a lending protocol, earn yield, and withdraw them without the gas fees eating 50% of your profits. This is how DeFi was supposed to work.
If you are hunting for yield in 2026, you need to be looking here.
