Payroll platform Deel announced on August 25, 2026 that it is enabling USDT payouts to Plasma One, a stablecoin money app built by Plasma. The pitch in trade press coverage: a worker gets paid in a dollar stablecoin and can spend it through a Visa card without a separate exchange step.
Who is behind it?
Plasma is a London-based company that unveiled Plasma One in June. Deel is based in San Francisco. In May, Deel launched stablecoin salary payouts and a crypto division led by Thierry Edde. The new step lets Deel send USDT, a stablecoin issued by Tether, to workers on the Plasma network, where they can hold, send or spend it through Plasma One.
What does Plasma One offer?
According to CPA Practice Advisor’s report:
- A Visa card that works in more than 180 countries.
- Up to 4% cashback on qualified card purchases. Higher tiers carry other rewards tied to AI services.
- Deposits in stablecoins from a wallet, or in USD, EUR, GBP, MXN and BRL through virtual accounts linked to local payment rails.
- Transfers described as settling in seconds on the Plasma network, with unlimited free transfers.
- Optional on-chain yield on idle balances.
Can any Deel worker use it today?
That’s not confirmed. Deel “is enabling” the payouts, but the report gives no launch date, rollout stages or list of eligible countries. Treat availability for the Deel link as unconfirmed.
Why It Matters to You
If you’re paid through Deel, this could eventually let you receive dollars as USDT and spend them by card without a separate exchange step. For now it’s an announcement, with no date or country list, so there’s nothing to switch on yet. Plasma One is a crypto app, not a bank, so it doesn’t replace your bank account, and balances in it are generally not deposit insured.
Is it really zero fee?
“Zero fees” is the companies’ claim as reported by CPA Practice Advisor. The article doesn’t verify it and publishes no fee schedule. The claim appears to describe transfers on the Plasma network. It doesn’t tell you what happens when you convert to local currency, withdraw to a bank, use an ATM, or pay in a foreign currency by card. Check Plasma One’s published terms for those costs before you rely on the “free” label, and ask for the full terms.
What is company marketing and what is confirmed?
The 180-country card figure and the 4% cashback cap come from Plasma’s own marketing as reported. Cashback depends on tier and on what counts as a qualified purchase, and the report doesn’t spell out those rules. It quotes no executive and includes no independent test of speed or cost. “Instant” and “seconds” describe network settlement, not identity checks, payroll processing time on Deel’s side, or any withdrawal to a bank. Cashback and yield have to come from somewhere, and the report doesn’t say who pays them or how long they will last.
Which stablecoin do workers get, and what are the risks?
USDT, which Tether issues. Its value is meant to track the US dollar but isn’t guaranteed, and any stablecoin can lose its peg. Your funds also depend on the app that holds them. Crypto rules vary by country, and some places limit holding or spending it. Moving money back into local currency can add fees and delays. This is general information, not financial advice.