TLDR
- Plasma CEO Paul Faecks denied rumors of insider token sales and confirmed that all team and investor holdings are locked for three years with a one-year cliff.
- Faecks emphasized that Plasma’s focus is on building a stablecoin-focused Layer-1 blockchain, not engaging in short-term token speculation.
- The CEO rejected the claim that Plasma is an “ex-Blast” project, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of the team.
- Faecks clarified that Plasma has no partnership with market maker Wintermute and only has public information about their XPL holdings.
- Plasma’s network processed over 2 million transactions, with 1.4 million occurring in a single 12-hour window, reflecting strong user growth.
Plasma’s native token, XPL, saw a notable rebound after CEO Paul Faecks addressed concerns over insider sales and team affiliations. Faecks clarified the situation by rejecting rumors about insider token liquidations and outlined strong adoption metrics. His comments helped stabilize the project after weeks of volatility, but skepticism remains among some analysts and community members.
XPL Gains 15% After CEO’s Strong Rebuttal
Paul Faecks responded firmly to allegations that Plasma insiders had sold tokens. He confirmed that all team and investor holdings are locked for three years with a one-year cliff. This lockup prevents any premature sales and ensures that the Plasma team remains committed to the project in the long term.
We’ve seen a number of rumors circulating since the launch of XPL and want to set the record straight.
1/ No team members have sold any XPL. All investor and team XPL is locked for 3 years with a 1 year cliff.
2/ Of our team of ~50, three spent time at Blur or Blast. Our team…
— Paul (@pauliepunt) October 1, 2025
Faecks stressed that Plasma’s focus is on building a stablecoin-focused Layer-1 blockchain, not on short-term token speculation. He added, “Our mission is to deliver value through stablecoin infrastructure, not to engage in speculative token sales.” His comments followed concerns from community members about the project’s ties to controversial projects and alleged undisclosed sales.
Despite Faecks’ reassurance, analysts have questioned the transparency of Plasma’s ecosystem and growth fund allocations. Some suggested that on-chain data regarding fund movements could further address concerns about the token’s distribution. However, the market response was largely positive, with XPL gaining nearly 15% following the CEO’s statements.
Plasma Not Tied to Wintermute or “Ex-Blast” Allegations
The CEO also countered the claim that Plasma is an “ex-Blast” project, pointing out that only three of the 50 team members had prior experience with Blur or Blast. He emphasized the diverse backgrounds of Plasma’s team, which includes professionals from companies like Google, Facebook, Square, Temasek, Goldman Sachs, and Nuvei. Faecks reiterated that Plasma’s team structure and expertise set it apart from any prior affiliations with controversial projects.
I know who we blame for $XPL
Team's Safe (0x000000000000000000000000000000000A11B004) -> … intermediates -> @wintermute_t Bybit pic.twitter.com/r8d4u8Fy8A
— Melardev (@uhonyn) September 30, 2025
Faecks also addressed accusations regarding market maker Wintermute. He firmly denied any partnership with Wintermute, clarifying that Plasma had no service contracts with the firm. “We have the same information as the public regarding Wintermute’s XPL holdings,” he stated, dispelling any suspicion of collaboration or hidden dealings.
Despite these clarifications, some community members, including crypto_popseye, remained skeptical of Faecks’ message. They questioned whether the CEO’s wording implied that Plasma’s other token categories, such as ecosystem and growth funds, had been sold. However, Faecks remained firm in his denial, stating that no internal sales had occurred.
Plasma’s Adoption Metrics and Market Response
While the market’s immediate reaction to Faecks’ statements was positive, the project’s adoption metrics also support Plasma’s long-term potential. Since its launch, the network has processed over 2 million transactions, with 1.4 million occurring in a single 12-hour window. According to data from Dune Analytics, approximately 5,000 new users join the network daily, accounting for over 70% of the platform’s daily active users.
Plasma’s steady growth despite negative sentiment suggests that the project is gaining traction with users. Analysts have even compared Plasma’s trajectory to Tron, highlighting its potential to capture a substantial share of stablecoin payments. This growth, coupled with Faecks’ reassurances, has led some to believe that Plasma could weather the current controversies and continue to thrive.
