Discover the top 10 cat meme coins making waves, including standout picks like Popcat (POPCAT), Cat in a Dog's World (MEW), and Mog Coin (MOG).

In the busy world of meme coins, any one of them can turn viral and build an army of enthusiastic followers, leading to high returns for investors. Over the years, dog-themed coins such as 

 have dominated the space and performed remarkably well.

Now, cat-themed meme coins are gaining popularity, with the latest data from CoinGecko showing over 100 cat-themed meme coin projects, largely built on Ethereum, Solana and Base.

These cat-themed meme coins combine the internet culture’s obsessions with cats and the allure of digital currencies to create something both fun and potentially profitable. From playful puns to clever branding, these tokens often capture the hearts of traders and cat lovers alike.

Let’s dive into the top 10 cat-themed meme coins so we can explore their unique features and communities, and see what sets them apart in the ever-evolving crypto landscape.

Cat-themed meme coins have steadily clawed their way into the crypto market, captivating investors with humor, community and sometimes unexpected gains. From playful tokens to more serious projects with charitable intentions, these coins highlight the fun and unpredictable nature of the crypto space. Below are the top cat-themed meme coins, including their market caps and current prices (all figures are based on CoinGecko statistics as of Sep 16, 2024).

Inspired by a short-haired domestic cat known as Oatmeal, 

 (POPCAT) is a Solana-based cat-themed meme coin that entered the space in 2020 and has become a top crypto project. Its robust and vibrant community has remained vested in this popular meme of a cat that opens and closes its mouth, creating a “popping” sound as users click on it.

With features such as an AI-powered custom meme generator, POPCAT continues to grow in popularity. At the time of this writing (Sep 13, 2024), it had an incredible market capitalization of $675 million and a 24-hour trading volume of $70 million. POPCAT’s current price is $0.688, a 31% drop from its all-time high (ATH) price of $0.9939 on Jul 21, 2024. Its total supply is 979,978,669 tokens, all of which are in circulation. 

 (MEW) stormed into the cryptocurrency market in March 2024 as another Solana-based meme coin designed to add liquidity into the ecosystem. Barely a week in the market, MEW’s value had grown by over 385%, catching the attention of meme coin lovers globally.

Ever since, this no-utility meme coin — whose main aim was to challenge the dominance of dog-themed meme coins in the space — has remained a top cat-themed meme coin contender.

At the time of this writing, MEW’s market cap stands at $371 million, and the token is trading at $0.004174, a 57.3% drop from its ATH of $0.0097 on Mar 31, 2024.

 (MOG) is an Ethereum-based meme coin launched in 2023. Designed to foster community empowerment through humor and positive vibes, its fun-filled branding and strategic tokenomics have continued to push this heavily traded meme coin.

Since its entry, MOG has enjoyed significant trading, pushing its market cap to $327 million at the time of this writing. Its current price of $0.0000009094 is a 62.8% drop from its ATH of $0.00000244 on Jul 21, 2024. 

MOG can be bought on Bybit as a Spot pair (

Simon’s Cat, a viral brand on YouTube, consists of an animated web series and a book collection by legendary animator Simon Tofield. In an unprecedented move, the brand announced its crypto token, 

 powered by BNB Smart Chain. The meme coin world welcomed the move as the token pumped hard within weeks of launch.

 is designed purely to entertain its community. On Sep 11, 2024, the project conducted an 

 to holders of another popular meme coin, 

 (FLOKI), whose launchpad it used to enter the crypto market. Following the airdrop, the price of CAT surged 26% within 24 hours to hit $0.000031. 

As of Sep 16, 2024, CAT is trading at $0.000031, a 13.9% decrease from its ATH of $0.00003567 on Sep 13, 2024. Less than a month after its launch, CAT’s market cap stands at $209 million.

Kittekoin (KOIN) is a newcomer that has quickly risen to rank among the top five cat-themed meme coins. Launched on August 21, 2024, KOIN is an ERC-20 cat-themed meme coin created to shift the meme coin landscape from being dog-dominated to a future led by cats.

 coin with a hard cap of 999,999,999 tokens. It features a “Harrd Meowney Value Vault” programmed to receive and HODL wrapped Bitcoin (wBTC), which can only be extracted by burning KOIN. This unique feature has likely contributed to its rapid rise in popularity, as its market cap soared from zero to over $100 million in a day on Sep 9, 2024, followed by another surge to $200 million the next day. 

Its market cap has since retreated slightly to $178 million on Sep 16, 2024, with a current price of $0.1782, 28.1% down from its ATH of $0.2477 on Sep 9, 2024. 

 (MICHI) is a Solana cat-themed meme coin designed to engage cat lovers through the fun and creative proliferation of cat memes. The token has followed the trend of similar Solana-based tokens, displaying phenomenal gains within a short period after its launch.

At the time of this writing, michi’s market cap is $60 million. The MICHI token is trading at a price of $0.109, an 81.4% drop from its ATH of $0.5877 on May 17, 2024.

 (WEN) is a Solana-based cat-themed meme coin inspired by a popular term in the crypto world, “wen” (which so-called 

 commonly use to ask when a project will launch). The unique thing about this meme coin is its innovative approach to 

, whereby each token holder has fractional ownership of the viral poem "A Love Letter to Wen Bros"by @weremeow.

WEN has a total supply of 1 trillion tokens, and a current market cap of $60 million. Its current price is $0.00008269, an 83.8% drop from its ATH of $0.0005105 on Mar 27, 2024. You can purchase 

 ecosystem, is based on the Japanese figurine of a beckoning cat who invites success and good fortune. The meme coin went viral after it became the first to be featured on the Nasdaq billboard in New York City’s Times Square.

MANEKI shook the crypto space when it recorded a 30,000% price jump within a week of its launch on April 24, 2024. While this price has since corrected, MANEKI continues with its aggressive marketing. The token’s price currently stands at $0.0057, a 79.2% drop from its ATH of $0.0276 earlier this year, with a market cap of $50 million. 

You can buy MANEKI on Bybit as a Spot pair (

 (TOSHI) is a cat-themed meme coin built on the Base blockchain. It was created by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and named after his cat, whose name was in turn inspired by Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, 

As one of the largest crypto projects on the Base network, TOSHI has caught investors’ attention. In early August, its 24-hour trading volume exceeded $10 million on SushiSwap. The token’s current market cap is $40 million and its price is $0.000097, an 87.8% drop from its ATH of $0.0007938 in early April 2024.

 (CWIF) is a Solana-based meme coin that rose to fame after the incredible success of its dog-themed counterpart, 

 (WIF). As a kick-starter into the space, CWIF airdropped 1.6 million tokens to its community, creating a solid and vibrant following around the project.

CWIF's deflationary tokenomics and enhanced community engagement have made it a sought-after meme coin on Solana. Its market cap stands at $23 million, with the token trading at $0.00000069, a 69.1% drop from its ATH of $0.000002244 on Jun 2, 2024.

Dog-themed meme coins were the earliest to enter the space, and have been dominating it through the years. The first and arguably most well-known is Dogecoin (DOGE), which began as a joke in 2013 and now has a market cap of over $14.9 billion. Dogecoin's rise paved the way for other dog-themed meme coins, the most notable being Shiba Inu (SHIB). Launched in August 2020, SHIB ranks second among dog-themed meme coins, and has a market cap of $7.89 billion.

While dog-themed meme coins have historically been more popular, cat-themed meme coins are emerging as viable competitors. Just as Dogecoin drew inspiration from internet humor, cat-themed meme coins have followed suit. Unlike their canine counterparts, cat-themed meme coins were created mainly after 2021, when the meme coin trend truly took off. 

While dog-themed meme coins have a larger market cap, their cat-themed counterparts are narrowing the gap.

What to Consider When Investing in Cat-Themed Meme Coins

Like all meme coins, cat-themed tokens are speculative by nature, making them highly volatile and prone to significant price fluctuations. As such, they’re fairly risky, requiring active 

As a rule of thumb, don’t invest more than you’re willing to lose. Join social channels for these cat-themed meme coins in order to keep in touch with their communities, and stay up-to-date on the latest news. You also need to evaluate other metrics, such as tokenomics, to ensure that a particular meme coin is capable of holding its value over time.

Though relatively new, cat-themed meme coins have demonstrated creativity and innovation, making them worthy contenders as the meme coin space continues to evolve. Despite their playful origins, these tokens are introducing real-world utility as they continue to challenge the dominance of dog-themed meme coins, and are proving to be an excellent way to invest in the meme coin space. 

Beginner

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Top 10 Cat-Themed Meme Coins to Watch in 2024

SunPump is a TRON-based app that facilitates the fair, affordable and user-friendly launches of meme coins.

The meme coin corner of the crypto market has been growing by leaps and bounds, turning into one of the central pillars of the industry over the past few years. It all started in 2019 when Elon Musk decided — either playfully or completely seriously, no one knows for certain — to promote Dogecoin (DOGE) on a social network (Twitter/X) that would eventually become his property. Five years on, meme coins are all the rage among crypto investors who aren’t shy of risk.

While Ethereum (ETH) and particularly Solana (SOL) have contributed the most to the current meme coin bounty, the TRON (TRX) blockchain has recently joined the race with the launch of SunPump, a meme coin generator designed for the fair launch of tokens via a bonding curve mechanism. Launched in mid-August 2024, SunPump quickly (though temporarily) overtook another trending meme coin generator platform, Solana-based Pump.fun, measured by daily token launches and revenue. SunPump's astounding rise in popularity even contributed to TRON's own success, with the TRX coin's 

 jumping sharply — from around $11 billion on the day of SunPump's launch to $14.5 billion just two weeks later.

 is a meme coin generator platform based on the TRON blockchain. 

The platform is designed to facilitate the fair launch of meme coin assets in an affordable and user-friendly way. Tokens launched via SunPump have no pre-sale or team allocation schedules, reducing the likelihood of scams and preferential treatment so common in the meme coin world.

SunPump was launched on Aug 13, 2024 by SUN.io, a major TRON-based 

 (DeFi) provider of liquidity and trading services. SUN.io had earlier developed and launched the SunSwap protocol, which offers traders liquidity mining, token swaps and 

-focused pools. The SunPump platform is integrated with SunSwap to provide liquidity and token swap opportunities.

SunPump’s platform quickly attained tremendous popularity, reaching more than 7,500 daily token launches on Aug 21, 2024, just eight days after opening up to the public. On that day, SumPump overtook another trending meme coin generator, Solana-based 

, by number of token launches. A day earlier, it had soared above Pump.fun by daily revenue.

Although SunPump retreated from its late August highs by early September, 2024, it remains one of the most trending meme coin crypto platforms, with over 80,000 tokens launched as of Sep 16, 2024.

Launching meme coins on SunPump is easy, quick and affordable. Token issuers pay a creation fee of just 20 TRX ($3). The convenient user interface allows issuers to provide basic token details, such as the token’s name, ticker, description and logo. There are also options to block automated bot-based pre-purchases in order to ensure the security of the launch process. All tokens must conform to the fair launch system (i.e., no team allocations and no presale rounds).

Users interested in buying tokens on SunPump can browse through the platform's website, evaluate the meme coins and easily place orders. There's a 1% transaction fee on all trades. Newly created tokens are subject to a bonding curve mechanism that’s intended to increase the tokens’ value as more people buy them. 

When the token reaches its 100% bonding curve, typically at a market cap level of around $69,420, $12,000 worth of it in TRX coins is deposited to SunSwap and 

SunPump is fully integrated with TRON and the SunSwap platform, allowing meme coin traders to conduct buy and sell operations through SunPump.

Some of the more popular SunPump meme coins have reached tens of millions of dollars in market capitalization, with two coins having crossed into triple-digit millions of dollars as of Sep 16, 2024. Below are the top seven SunPump meme coins by market cap as of that date.

The current absolute leader in rankings is Sundog (SUNDOG), a dog-themed meme coin whose issuer assures us that this canine will "take us to the Sun." Given that TRON founder Justin Sun is a highly popular personality within the blockchain's ecosystem, the proliferation of SunPump meme coins with the word "Sun" in it is rather unsurprising.

A distant runner-up in the rankings is Tron Bull (BULL). With a $107 million market cap, this is the only other meme coin on the platform to breach the $100 million barrier.

The next few coins in the rankings have market caps of roughly $6 million to $19 million. Rounding off the list of the top seven are two more sun-worshiping coins — SunWukong (SUNWUKONG) and SUNCAT (SUNCAT). 

At the moment, SumPump looks to be a truly sunny place!

Since the early days of its market presence, SunPump has been compared to the Solana-based meme generator Pump.fun. Both platforms have a strikingly similar functional setup. Similarly to SunPump, Pump.fun features a fair-launch mechanism, a bonding curve–based token buying process, and the ability to sell at any time tokens that have been bought previously. The two platforms have become the most popular meme coin generators, and have been in fierce competition with each other since late August 2024.

On Aug 20, 2024, just a week after its launch, SunPump overtook Pump.fun by daily revenue for the first time, registering a 24-hour revenue of $2,768,648 TRX (around $396,000 at that time) vs. Pump.fun's $170,237 (per data from Dune.com). The next day, SunPump was reported to have overtaken its rival by number of daily token launches as well.

SunPump remained ahead of Pump.fun as measured by daily revenue, until Aug 31, 2024, when the latter regained the lead. Despite retreating from its late August highs, SunPump remains one of the two most popular meme coin generators as of mid-September 2024.

In order to start trading or issuing tokens on SunPump, you’ll first need to connect a 

 compatible with the TRON ecosystem, such as TronLink or TokenPocket. Upon connecting the wallet, you’ll be issued a personal profile. On the 

 page, you can view all of your token(s) and transaction information.

Meme coin traders can explore the plethora of available assets on the platform, viewing detailed information for each token on its dedicated page. Besides the token name, ticker, logo and basic description, key details include the overview of token distribution, its trading price, market cap, creator address, launch date, trading volume and the current bonding curve percentage that’s been completed. When you choose your preferred meme coin, you can buy it on its bonding curve using TRX coins. Naturally, you’re also advised to 

 via external sources as well before investing in any meme coin on the platform.

The bonding curve model might lead to the token's significant price appreciation as more investors choose the asset. Naturally, this isn’t a guaranteed outcome. You may also sell the asset at any time in order to lock in profits or cut your losses.

The meme coin mania that originally began on Ethereum and proceeded to infect Solana has now reached TRON. SunPump is the first major endeavor by Justin Sun's platform to become a key player in the fast-growing and potentially lucrative market focused on these digital assets. The meme coin app has not only made a name for itself, but also lifted the fortunes of TRON's TRX coin as well. It took Solana's Pump.fun several months after its launch to become truly popular, but SunPump has done it within a matter of days — and it continues to power on. As of the time of this writing (Sep 16, 2024), hundreds of new meme coins are being launched on the platform every day.

Intermediate

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SunPump: Your Gateway to Meme Tokens on TRON

Synapse is a cross-chain communications network that allows people to send data, assets and messages between blockchains. Learn more about how it works here.

 has resulted in a lot of exciting opportunities for users, but it also comes with challenges. Many blockchains struggle to communicate with each other, so it can be hard to transfer data between different systems. Synapse helps to address this issue with its convenient cross-chain network. People can use the Synapse protocol for everything from sending messages to moving digital assets. Keep reading to discover how Synapse has revolutionized blockchain communication. 

 is a cross-chain communications network that allows people to send data, assets and messages between blockchains. The protocol is available on a wide variety of chains, including both 

Synapse was made by a pseudonymous group of developers who go by the X/Twitter handles of AureliusBTC, Socrates0x, Caesar0x, Trajan0x and ChiTimesChi. The project was originally a stableswap 

 (AMM) called Nerve Finance. However, in 2021, the development team chose to switch focus and rebrand. 

Since the project’s cross-chain network was so strong, its team decided to prioritize developing that instead of continuing with their AMM development. Despite updating their business model, they were able to retain their original group of investors. The project has funding from Primitive Ventures, CMS Holdings and others.

Synapse hopes to solve the problem of cross-chain communication. Blockchains are inherently isolated networks. Each blockchain runs with its own system of code, security measures and validation methods. This can make it challenging for blockchains to interact with each other. Users who try to operate different blockchain networks simultaneously can run into problems, such as their assets being unavailable on a blockchain they use to play a particular game. 

This is where Synapse is useful. By stepping in to handle cross-chain interactions, its communication protocol allows people to use whatever chain they wish. This way, users can work with multiple chains without having to worry about being able to move assets and information between systems. 

The Synapse Chain is the heart of the entire cross-chain system. This source chain functions as a data availability layer that can send information between any Synapse tools and any outside chains the protocol connects to. It's an Ethereum-based 

The Synapse system is designed to be fully trustless and permissionless. Anyone is allowed to run a node to help secure the network, and a system of checks and balances verifies messages. The 

 (PoS) consensus method requires validators to temporarily lock tokens in 

, so they have to follow network rules or forfeit their funds.

Synapse's cross-chain transfers have many applications within the blockchain world. Following are the primary ways that users can benefit from Synapse’s services.

Synapse's cross-chain bridges allow users to send assets between a variety of chains. Its simple interface lets users transfer assets simply by clicking their desired network, entering the amount of tokens they want to send and confirming the transaction. The bridges work with over 15 chains and allow the bridging of both wrapped and native assets. Synapse Bridge is one of the most commonly used crypto bridges, having helped transfer

Synapse Swap allows for asset exchanges between certain chains. Instead of just moving an asset from one chain to another, Swap exchanges assets. Users' funds are fully converted to a native token on a different chain, so swapped funds are even more versatile than bridged ones. 

Synapse's asset pools help with liquidity while also providing users with chances to earn income. People can temporarily lock their tokens in Synapse's pools in order to provide liquid tokens that make 

 (DeFi) transactions faster. They can earn interest while the tokens are being used, and then receive their initial funds back at the end of the term. Synapse's time-weighted reward system allows people to earn up to 26% 

The Stake feature allows users to help secure the Synapse protocol and other DeFi systems. By temporarily locking tokens, users provide the funds needed for PoS validation. Staking also functions as a means of earning passive income. Users can earn yields of up to 26% via the staking service. 

Explorer lets people view all the cross-chain transactions that take place on Synapse. This helpful tool is useful for both investors, who can see which chains have the most activity, and developers, who can watch how their projects perform.

The Interchain Network is a complex web of cross-chain communication and settlement. Developers can access it to make products function more seamlessly. For example, AMM can use it to pool liquidity across chains, while a private key management system can use it to secure multiple wallets.

This bridge is specifically used to move assets between the 

 ecosystem and other chains. It supports transfers of ETH, USDC, WETH and wSOL. 

Since 2021, Synapse has made far-ranging changes to its system, having designed a variety of helpful tools and expanded its technology to work with many different blockchains. As of summer 2024, Synapse's main focus is on further increasing its number of connected chains so that users can transfer data between a variety of different chains. It’s also looking for ways to increase the number of people and 

 that will encourage more people to rely on its services. 

SYN is the native token for the Synapse Chain. Its primary purpose is to assist with governance. Anyone who holds over 100,000 SYN tokens can vote on matters in the Synapse 

 (DAO). SYN currently has a maximum supply of 250 million tokens, but some members of the DAO have suggested that the 

 in the future. Initially, SYN tokens have been distributed as follows:

Since SYN hit the market, the token's value has shifted a lot. At first, SYN’s price was around $3. However, in the summer of 2022, it dropped below $2 and hasn’t recovered since. Despite the decline in price, SYN has still experienced some occasional price spikes. When the company announces promising news about its project, prices begin to rise to around $1. 

It seems likely that another similar price increase is right around the corner for SYN. Crypto influencers report a 

, due to all the exciting news about Synapse adding more blockchains to its system. Furthermore, analysis of SYN pricing data shows that it could potentially reach $1.40 by the end of September 2024, and CoinCodex suggests that by the end of this year, SYN 

Looking to trade Synapse tokens? Bybit now offers SYNUSDT Perpetual contracts for trading. To get started, you’ll first need to create a Bybit account, then fund it with cryptocurrency and navigate to the 

If you like investing in fairly stable web3 projects, SYN is a good choice. This crypto doesn't have wild price swings, as a new startup would, but it's been around for a while and has proved its worth. Thanks to the utility of the Synapse protocol, SYN rarely undergoes huge price drops, and it regularly experiences price increases. Therefore, investors who like holding onto crypto for a while and selling at the perfect moment may enjoy Synapse.

However, if you’re extremely risk-averse, SYN might not be for you. SYN doesn't have the massive trading volume or reliable value of 

 such as BTC, so some uncertainty is expected. If you want to invest in SYN, you'll need to 

 and avoid overextending yourself financially.

The Synapse protocol provides a much-needed service for blockchain networks. Its ability to provide effective communication allows users to perform a variety of bridging, swapping and trading tasks. As long as Synapse continues to expand its system, its crypto seems likely to perform reliably. If you enjoy investing in web3 services, Synapse is worth considering.

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Synapse Protocol (SYN): Simplifying Cross-Chain Asset Transfers

Ride-hailing app Tada has integrated TON crypto payments, allowing users in Singapore to pay for rides with Toncoin and USDT through a new Telegram Mini App.

Daily Top Performer — Nervos Network (CKB)

Last week, the SPX index was up by 4.02%, the gains were driven by market optimism, despite a typically weak September, with speculation about a potential 50 basis point rate cut. Currently, the chances for either a quarter- or half-point cut are evenly split. Investors also await August retail sales data and earnings reports later this week. Coindesk Indices, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency market performance was down by 3.64%, with Bitcoin and Ether dropping by 1.24% and 1.96%, respectively in the past 24 hours.

Today's top performer is CKB, which surged 12.8% following the launch of Fiber Network, a scalable and low-cost lightning solution for Nervos CKB.

Nervos Network (CKB), launched on November 2019, is a blockchain network featuring the Common Knowledge Base (CKB) for Layer 1 security and flexibility, utilizing Proof-of-Work consensus. It supports interoperability with various blockchain layers and allows developers to build decentralized applications with account abstraction at the protocol level. 

 on Nervos CKB is a lightning network for scalable, low-cost, fast multi-token payments. Inspired by Bitcoin's Lightning Network, it uses off-chain channels and on-chain contracts for efficiency, with cross-chain functionality already developed. Upcoming features include multi-hop routing and enhanced privacy, leading to a testing phase soon.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

, allowing users in Singapore to pay for rides with Toncoin and USDT through a new Telegram Mini App. This collaboration aims to accelerate Web3 adoption by combining ride-hailing, social media, and crypto payments. Tada operates in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, with plans to expand into Hong Kong in 2024. The partnership promotes Web3 solutions by offering free rides and discounts at the upcoming Token2049 event, encouraging users to experience the benefits of cryptocurrency payments.

From September 9 to 13, 2024, total BTC Spot ETF flows amounted to $403.9 million, with non-GBTC inflows at $431.1 million and GBTC outflows at $27.3 million. The overall cumulative total for BTC Spot ETF investments is now $17.3 billion, with GBTC at -$20.04 billion and non-GBTC at $37.34 billion.

, with deposits available through the airdrop logo link. They have adjusted their reward distribution method by reducing the weight of $vKitty profits and focusing on genuine player activities like on-chain interactions and task completions. However, the airdrop supply is now 15%, significantly lower than the promised 43%.

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Tada Integrates TON Crypto Payments for Singapore Rides via Telegram Mini App

Bybit Learn

Altcoins

Crypto

Stablecoin

Take a look at stablecoins. How are they different from other cryptocurrencies? And are they a good investment?

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Stablecoins have become increasingly popular, with their market cap reaching $164 billion in August 2024. But how are they different from other cryptocurrencies? And are they a good investment? Let’s explore more about what it is.

Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that have their price pegged to or backed by a stable asset, or group of assets. Most are pegged to fiat i.e. real currency. However, some may be pegged to the price of commodities such as gold, or even other cryptocurrencies. Some are not pegged to any asset. 

Many see stablecoins as having the best of both worlds – they possess the blockchain technology that most cryptocurrencies possess, but are without the volatility that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies can suffer from. They are stable coins in the literal sense of the word. 

How do stablecoins work so they are actually kept stable?

How is Price Stability and Low Volatility Achieved?

Price stability and low volatility are often cited as major advantages of stablecoins. It should be noted however that stablecoins are only as stable as the asset they are pegged to. 

Although by their nature, stablecoins are pegged to assets that are expected to be stable themselves, that’s not to say they are not immune to volatility. 

Price swings could still happen, thus affecting the volatility of the stablecoin. Thankfully, this is rare. Stablecoins are generally very stable because of the high stability of the asset they are pegged to. 

But how are stablecoins kept stable, or in other words, how do they keep their peg maintained? 

This comes down to the issue of trust. For the peg to be maintained, the market needs to have trust in the asset the coin is pegged to. That’s why coins are pegged to trusted assets such as US dollars, gold and oil. 

 (USDT), for example, is pegged to the U.S. dollar, meaning that for every unit of USDT, parent company Tether keeps a U.S. dollar in reserves. If the market didn’t hold trust in that one unit of USDT was worth one dollar, then it would crash. However, the fact that USDT for the most part has been always very close to one dollar in value, is a testament to the trust the market has in it.

Price stability and low volatility can bring convenience, but in what ways are stablecoins used? 

Stablecoins are being increasingly used for transactions, with the blockchain technology enabling international transactions to be done significantly more quickly than more traditional means. Additionally, some individuals and merchants may be perhaps understandably resistant to transact in a cryptocurrency which may fluctuate in price massively in a short period of time, such as Bitcoin. With stablecoins, this risk is significantly lower.

Also in developing countries, they are used as an alternative to the failing bank systems where many don’t have a bank account at all and hyperinflation can be a huge problem. 

was launched in Venezuela and Angola in 2019 in an attempt to combat these issues.

Let’s imagine a trader is concerned about the risk of the price of Bitcoin falling against the U.S. dollar. They may not want to exchange to fiat, as this can be expensive due to processing fees. So, that’s where exchanging to a stablecoin can be a handy option. They could be exchanged to a stablecoin pegged to the price of the U.S. dollar, such as USDT or USDC, and this risk is then taken away.

 in recent years has become well-established in the financial sector, and offers a public blockchain-based alternative to traditional financial services through the use of smart contracts. Stablecoins play their part as they offer a stable means of transactions taking place in the DeFi system.

Four different types of stablecoins exist. Three types are backed by collateral, and one type is not. In addition to this, two types are centralized (held by a central entity), and two types are decentralized (not held by a central entity).

Most stablecoins are pegged to fiat currencies, such as USD, EUR or GBP. This is done at, or very near to, a 1:1 ratio. This essentially means that for every stablecoin, there is a unit of fiat currency stored somewhere in reserves too.

So let’s imagine that somebody wants to convert their stablecoins into cash. The institution storing the stablecoins will send the fiat currency being stored in reserves to the individual’s bank account, and the amount of stablecoins equating to the amount of fiat circulation will be removed from circulation.

Most stablecoins in this category are collateralized to gold, but they can be collateralized to other commodities too, including metals, oil, or real estate. These commodities act as mechanisms to limit price volatility. Commodity-backed stablecoins can give everyday investors the opportunity to invest in commodities. Although investments in assets such as gold have traditionally been for the rich, these types of stablecoins have opened them up to potentially a whole new demographic of people.

Some stablecoins are pegged to cryptocurrencies. In contrast to fiat-backed stablecoins, cryptocurrency-backed stablecoins are issued through smart contracts. As cryptocurrency prices can be notoriously volatile, coins are often backed by multiple cryptocurrencies. So if one suffers price volatility, the others can absorb the shock while remaining stable. 

Additionally, some are protected by a process called over-collateralization. It means when the coin is backed by an asset more than the value of the coin, and is used as a protective measure. So, instead of a ratio 1:1 like fiat, the ratio may be 1:2 instead, meaning that the stablecoin is backed up by cryptocurrency collateral double its value.

Pros of Cryptocurrency Backed Stablecoins:

Cons of Cryptocurrency Backed Stablecoins:

Believe it or not, noncollateralized stablecoins do exist: this type of stablecoin is known as the 

. The supply of these stablecoins is controlled by algorithmic pegging and smart contracts. Supply and demand drive the prices of these stablecoins. The supply of these stablecoins is controlled by an algorithm-based model known as seigniorage shares.

If the price of the stablecoin increases, then coins will be issued by the algorithm until the supply and demand achieve equilibrium. If the price of the stablecoin decreases, then the supply of the coins will be reduced until supply and demand also achieves equilibrium. By doing these things, the algorithm can keep the price of the coin stable.

There are contrasting options on whether stablecoins are a good investment or not. Let’s look at some of the arguments for and against.

Reasons for Stablecoins Being a Good Investment

Reasons for Stablecoins not Being a Good Investment

Although the question of if stablecoins are a good investment is open to debate, what isn’t is that they have much potential. They bring the benefits of blockchain technology and stability, meaning they can be relied upon for transactions in the crypto ecosystem. Their mass adoption has the potential to revolutionize traditional means of financial transactions and provide a much-needed avenue for the billions unbanked (those without a bank account) around the world. They could prove to be a safe haven from the hyperinflation which plagues some third-world countries. The future is bright for stablecoins. 

Stablecoins: Unpacking Their Role & Impact in the Crypto Market

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