Cryptocurrency and stablecoin were considered by crypto believers to be a good hedge against inflation. But the current crash in the stablecoin market and the rapid inflation of global fiat currencies including the US dollar since the beginning of the year are proving the opposite.
The belief that they would protect against inflation was never proven by tangible facts but only mere speculation. During the crash of May 2022, a specific type of stablecoins, called algorithmic stablecoins, turned out to be as unstable as cryptocurrencies.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Algorithmic stablecoins are too volatile as an asset class and should be regulated. They should be backed with cash or cash-equivalent reserves to actually remain stable, and they should not be allowed to be backed with an algorithm strategy that relies on another volatile token of cryptocurrency.
Stablecoins as a hedge against volatility?
Stablecoins were introduced as the safest cryptocurrencies as they were meant to protect crypto traders from the volatility of the cryptocurrency market. They are meant to be used as a safe crypto asset for traders who are looking to limit their exposure to the volatility of the sector but want to stay involved in it. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that are pegged to a fiat currency such as the US dollar or the euro. For example, the largest stablecoin by market cap according to CoinMarketCap is Tether, which is backed one-to-one by the US dollar. But the recent crypto crash revealed that stablecoins such as Terra and Luna could be as volatile as other cryptocurrencies.
Prior to the crypto crash of May 2022, the stablecoin UST had a market cap of $18.44bn according to CoinMarketCap and was pegged one-to-one to the US dollar. Just days prior to the crash, CoinMarketCap placed it as the third largest stablecoin by market cap behind Tether and USD Coin. But as of May 16, its market cap reportedly plummeted to $1.07bn. This caused UST to be de-pegged from the US dollar, with CoinMarketCap reporting a current trading value of $0.12.
UST is an algorithmic stablecoin that relies on an algorithm to manage its pegging to the US dollar by using another cryptocurrency, Luna. When UST supply decreases but the demand rises, its price goes above $1. In order to maintain its value with the US dollar, the algorithm lets users trade one Luna for one UST, and in this process, Luna is destroyed to mint for one UST.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataUST design flaw
The process of destroying Luna and minting UST continues until UST is worth $1. An opposite mechanism takes place when UST drops below $1. The reason behind the collapse is still not clear, but one design flaw with UST is that it relies on traders’ incentives to maintain the parity to the US dollar, and it is vulnerable to a massive sell-off if enough traders decide to get out of their position.
The collapse of UST should raise concerns around stablecoins and the assets that are used to back them. With the lack of regulations, it is possible for developers of stablecoins to use any assets they see fit to back their coin. UST was using a volatile token to maintain its value, and it was only a matter of time until it all collapsed. Until regulations are introduced and requirements are made to only use fiat currencies and liquid assets as collateral for stablecoins, more algorithmic stablecoins will collapse.
Chris Dinga is a payments analyst at GlobalData
