WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF STABLECOINS?

👋 Hello everyone, today we will be discussing stablecoins, which currently have a market capitalization of around $160 billion. Those who are not very familiar with cryptocurrencies often use stablecoins for various purposes such as making payments, storing money in a stable currency as an alternative to the US dollar, and for international transactions as well. However, stablecoins actually have a wide range of potential uses beyond these basic functions. In this post, you will learn about the different types of stablecoins available in the market.


💎 DIFFERENT TYPES OF STABLECOINS, THEIR APPLICATIONS, AND POTENTIAL RISKS

The type of stablecoin and its purpose are typically defined by the developer, who also establishes the asset to which it is pegged, and creates the system for issuing and burning coins. Stablecoins that are listed on the top 20 exchanges globally in terms of capitalization are the ones that garner the most interest.


💎 SECURED BY FIAT WITH A PEG TO A SPECIFIC CURRENCY

Binding can be done in various currencies such as USD, EUR, and others. One of the most well-known coins for binding is Tether. According to its developers, the coin is fully backed by real currency, stocks, bonds, and low-risk assets.

⚠️ However, there are risks involved with backing. For instance, Tether has faced challenges with verifying its backing. The company was not forthcoming in providing all necessary information to auditors. As a result, there are doubts about whether the security can serve as a protection fund in times of unexpected events.

In another example, the second largest USDC stablecoin pegged to the USD fell below 87 cents in early March 2023. This drop was widely attributed to the bankruptcy of Silicon Valley Bank, where the startup had held approximately $3.3 billion in collateral. While the situation has since been stabilized, the potential for another bank failure to affect the value of a stablecoin remains a concern.


💎 SECURED BY A SPECIFIC ASSET

One example of this is the PAXG coin, which is backed by physical gold. This means that the value of the coin is directly linked to the price of gold, eliminating the need for complicated stock market investments or futures trading. By simply purchasing the coin, you can potentially earn money.

⚠️ However, there are risks involved, particularly regarding security. The price of PAXG is not determined by traditional supply and demand forces, as it is tied to the value of gold regardless of the number of tokens in circulation. The algorithm controls the number of tokens, but there is uncertainty about whether the startup behind the coin will fulfill its obligations in case of unforeseen circumstances.


💎 ALGORITHMIC STABLECOINS
One of the most complex models of operation to comprehend is the concept of stablecoins. These digital currencies are built on computer code, which is essentially an algorithm that governs the creation and destruction of coins.

There are primarily two types of algorithmic stablecoins

1️⃣ The first type operates without any external backing. When the price of the stablecoin rises, the algorithm mints more coins. Conversely, when the price drops, it burns existing coins. This mechanism seems logical from an economic perspective, but it becomes problematic during times of crisis when everyone rushes to convert their virtual coins into real money.

⚠️ There are inherent risks associated with algorithmic stablecoins as they lack any physical backing. When you purchase stablecoins by providing USD, the developers may use the funds as they see fit. You can only expect to retrieve your investments if someone else injects more USD into the system. The story of Do Kwon and his Luna stablecoin serves as a cautionary tale of such a pyramid scheme.

2️⃣ The second type of algorithmic stablecoins introduces a more sophisticated concept, exemplified by the workings of DAI created by the startup MakerDAO. The innovative approach involves a redundant reservation system, where the responsibility of securing the collateral lies with the user rather than the developers.

Each user can mint a DAI coin, pegged to the value of 1 USD, by locking up another cryptocurrency as collateral in excess of 100%. This surplus serves as a safety net in case the value of the pledged cryptocurrency experiences a significant drop, potentially by 50% or more. If the value of the collateral falls below the 100% threshold, the investor's position is automatically liquidated. Notably, developers have no control over the issuance of DAI, with the stability of its price reliant on the collateral provided by users.

⚠️ Despite the innovative approach, there are inherent risks involved. A sudden decrease in the value of the collateral cryptocurrency can result in standard "slippages", where users not only lose their collateral asset but are left with a stablecoin experiencing a drastic devaluation from 1 USD to just a few cents.


💎 WRAPPERD STABLECOINS
One popular example is Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC). Bitcoin and Ethereum are the two largest platforms, but they are not compatible with each other. Developers who deploy startups on Ethereum find that their users also work with BTC as a reliable investment tool. WBTC was created as an intermediary to bridge this gap. The coin is deployed on the Ethereum network and is tied to WBTC in a 1:1 ratio.

⚠️ However, there are risks involved in using WBTC. As it belongs to people, there is a lack of decentralization. Only the portion of WBTC that is in demand is secured, leading to a smaller capitalization compared to bitcoin. The extent to which this network can be trusted is a complex question that requires careful consideration.

✅ CONCLUSION
Stablecoins are an effective asset when utilized as a medium of exchange rather than as an investment, unlike gold-backed coins which function more as an investment tool. These coins provide protection against price fluctuations as they are linked to a stable asset. However, they still carry similar risks to altcoins such as detachment from the collateral, a decrease in the collateral's book value, and potential fraud by developers.

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