Why fund Plu from MetaMask?
MetaMask is the most widely used Web3 wallet — built around Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains.
Plu issues a Visa card you can fund directly with stablecoins. MetaMask is EVM-only — it sends USDC and USDT via Ethereum (ERC-20). For lower fees, you can also bridge to a Layer 2 like Arbitrum or Base, then back to Ethereum mainnet before sending to Plu, but for most users a direct ERC-20 transfer is simpler. The result: one on-chain transaction, then you spend at any of 100+ million Visa merchants in 143+ countries — no exchange off-ramp, no bank account required.
This guide walks you through the exact flow: copying Plu's deposit address, choosing the right network on MetaMask, sending the transfer, and confirming the credit. Most users finish in under 5 minutes.
What you'll need
- MetaMask installed on your browser extension or mobile app
- USDC or USDT on Ethereum (ERC-20) balance in your MetaMask wallet (enough for the transfer + a small network fee buffer)
- A Plu account (free — sign up at app.getplu.com if you don't have one)
- Internet connection on both devices
Step-by-step
1. Open Plu and tap Add funds
Choose USDC or USDT. Plu will prompt you to pick a network.
2. Choose your network
MetaMask sends via Ethereum (ERC-20). Network fees vary with gas conditions ($2-15 typical). For cheaper funding, consider holding USDT or USDC in a Tron-compatible wallet for TRC-20 transfers (under $1 in fees).
3. Copy the deposit address
Plu shows a unique deposit address for the network you selected. Tap to copy. Verify the first and last 4 characters match what you'll paste in the next step.
4. Open MetaMask and tap Send
In MetaMask, click the asset (USDC or USDT), tap Send, and paste the Plu deposit address. Make sure 'Ethereum Mainnet' is selected at the top of the wallet — MetaMask supports many EVM networks, but Plu expects ERC-20 deposits on Ethereum.
5. Paste the address and enter the amount
Paste the Plu deposit address. Enter the USDC or USDT amount you want to fund. MetaMask will show you the network fee — review it, then confirm.
6. Wait for the credit
Once the transaction confirms on-chain, Plu credits your balance. Ethereum (ERC-20) typically takes 1-3 minutes. You'll see a notification in the Plu app.
Network selection
MetaMask supports the following networks for Plu funding:
| Network | Fee | Speed | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethereum (ERC-20) | $2-15 typical (gas-dependent) | 1-3 minutes | USDC/USDT already on Ethereum |
Default recommendation: **Ethereum (ERC-20)**.
Common issues and fixes
- Wrong network — MetaMask defaults to whatever network you used last. If it's set to Polygon, BSC, or Arbitrum, the transfer will fail or land on the wrong chain. Switch to 'Ethereum Mainnet' before sending.
- Insufficient ETH for gas — even if you have USDC/USDT, you need a small ETH balance to pay the gas fee. Keep at least $5-10 of ETH in the wallet.
- USDC vs USDT.e — make sure you're sending the canonical token, not a bridged variant. The contract address should match the official USDC (0xa0b8...) or USDT (0xdac17...) on Ethereum.
- High gas — Ethereum gas spikes during peak hours. Check gas conditions before sending; if fees exceed $10, wait an hour or use a faster gas estimator.
What you can do once funded
Once your Plu balance lands, you can:
- Add the Plu Visa to Apple Pay or Google Pay for contactless payments
- Pay any subscription billed in USD (Netflix, Spotify, GitHub, ChatGPT, AWS, etc.)
- Spend at any merchant accepting Visa — 100+ million worldwide
- Withdraw cash at ATMs at competitive rates
- Issue scoped Agent Cards for AI agents (Claude, Cursor, etc.) with hard spending limits
Browse the dedicated USDC and USDT card pages to see networks supported, country availability, and detailed comparisons.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send from a MetaMask Layer 2 (Arbitrum, Base, Optimism) directly?
Plu's deposit addresses are for Ethereum mainnet, not L2s. You'd need to bridge from the L2 back to mainnet first (using the official bridge or a service like Across), then send from mainnet to Plu. For most users, it's simpler to keep a small USDC/USDT balance on Ethereum mainnet for funding.
What network should I use to send from MetaMask?
MetaMask supports Ethereum (ERC-20) only. Network fees vary with gas — typically $2-15. For cheaper funding, consider a Tron-compatible wallet.
How long does the transfer take to credit my Plu balance?
Once the transaction confirms on-chain, Plu credits your balance immediately. Confirmation time depends on the network: TRC-20 lands in 30-90 seconds, ERC-20 takes 1-3 minutes, Solana under 30 seconds.
What if I send to the wrong network?
Cross-chain mistakes are usually unrecoverable. Always confirm the destination address matches the network shown in Plu's deposit screen. Tron addresses start with "T", Ethereum addresses start with "0x", Solana addresses use base58 encoding. MetaMask should clearly show the network at the top of the send screen — match it to what Plu requested.
Is there a minimum or maximum deposit?
Plu's minimum deposit is generally low (under $10 equivalent) but varies by tier. Maximum deposits scale with your account verification level. Network fees may make very small deposits uneconomical — it's best to batch top-ups when possible.