What Are Stablecoins and How Do They Work? (Beginner Guide)

Imagine you are able to buy things with crypto and you are buying a coffee with Bitcoin in the morning, but by afternoon that same amount could only buy you half a cookie or even a full meal in a 5-st

Oppi Wallet
January 1, 2026
15 min read
What Are Stablecoins and How Do They Work? (Beginner Guide)

Imagine you are able to buy things with crypto and you are buying a coffee with Bitcoin in the morning, but by afternoon that same amount could only buy you half a cookie or even a full meal in a 5-star restaurant.

This sounds frustrating right? But this is the reality of cryptocurrency volatility. Let’s see about last year the price swung from $48,000 to over $126,000 and back down again.

And for someone who tries to use crypto for everyday purchases or even saving money, these wild price swings create some real problems.

You cannot properly budget when your exchange or wallet charges by 5% to 10% every week. You cannot even pay rent, book a flight, or send money to your family confidently because the price might drop or go up overnight.

And this is exactly why still many people hesitate to use cryptocurrency for anything and they only buy any crypto for investment purposes or for trading.

This is where stablecoins come in. You can think of them as calm cousins in the crypto family. Stablecoin is a digital currency which was designed to hold a consistent value, usually pegged to $1.

While Bitcoin acts like a digital gold, great asset for long-term holding but too jumpy for daily use. Stablecoins are built for stability and real-world transactions.

In this guide, you will learn what Stablecoins actually are, how they are able to maintain their value, how many types of stablecoins are available, why people are using them for payments and transfers, what are the most popular stablecoins and most importantly, how to use them safely.

Whether you want to send money from one country to another, or avoid crypto market crashes, or simply spend digital currency without any roller coaster ride in their price, this guide will show you how exactly Stablecoins work.

With Oppi Wallet, you can store stablecoins like USDC and USDT securely, spend them in your daily life without any restrictions and even book your flight and hotels using travel with crypto feature with your stablecoins.

1. So What Exactly is Stablecoin?

A stablecoin is a cryptocurrency which is pegged to a stable asset like the US dollar, Euro, or even gold. Here “pegged” simply means tied to the value of that asset.

And that is why even if Bitcoin’s price jumps up and down every day, the price of stablecoin aims to stay at a fixed value, which is usually $1.

Now here is how this peg works in simple terms. So most stablecoins use one of the two methods.

The first method is reserves, where a company actually holds dollars or government bonds in a bank account for every stablecoin they issue.

For example, if they issue 1 million USDC tokens, then they will keep $1 million in reserves.

The second method uses algorithms, these are basically automated rules in code that burns or create tokens to keep the price steady. You can think of it like a thermostat that turns heat on or off to maintain room temperature.

Let us give you a quick example. One USDC also known as USD Coin equals $1. One USDT also known as USD Tether equals $1. One DAI which has been renaming itself to USDS equals approximately $1. These are three most popular stablecoins as of January 2026, and together they account for over $170 billion in circulation worldwide.

Why does this “stable” part matter so much? Because it actually makes crypto usable for real life. You can easily pay your rent without any worries about the value drop before your landlord cashes it. You can book a flight for example $500 in stablecoins and you know that it will be $500 only when the payment processes.

You can hold your savings in crypto as a stablecoin without worrying about the crypto rollercoaster that keeps investors awake at night.

Note: This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. Stablecoins carry risks, and you should do your own research before using them.

2. The Four Types of Stablecoins

Now you know what exactly stablecoin is. Then it is also important to know that not all stablecoins work the same way.

Some are backed by actual dollars sitting in bank vaults, while some use crypto and others use actual lines of code to maintain their value. 

And understanding these four types will actually help you choose the right one when you are ready to use stablecoins.

1. Fiat-Backed Stablecoins

Fiat-Backed Stablecoins are the simplest and most popular type. Here fiat means real money, which means that fiat backed money is backed 1:1 by real dollars (or other government bonds or currencies) held in bank accounts or safe assets like US Treasury bonds.

The two biggest examples of Fiat-backed are USDT (Tether) with over $186 billion in circulation. USDT is owned and issued by Tether.

Another is USDC (USD Coin) with over $71 billion in circulation as of January 2026. USDC is owned and issued by Circle.

So when Circle issues 1 million USDC tokens, they will deposit$1 million into reserve accounts. Hypothetically, you can redeem your USDC for actual dollars through the official channels, but most people use them just for trading on exchanges.

How does it stay stable? Everyone has this question. So the company publishes attestations, which are basically reports from accounting firms which proves that they actually hold the reserves.

The trust factor here is simple but critical too at the same. Because you are relying on the company to be honest with you about having those funds in the vault.

You can read more about self-custody wallets vs exchanges in our guide to get more knowledge regarding this.

2. Crypto-Backed Stablecoins

These are alternatives of fiat-backed, where in fiat backed it was backed by real dollars.

In this stablecoins are backed by cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other cryptocurrencies. The most well-known example is DAI, which is created by MakerDAO.

Here is where this gets interesting. As everyone knows that crypto is volatile, you need to do over-collateralization.

Which means that if you want $100 worth of DAI, then you have to lock-up $150 or more worth of Ethereum as collateral.

You can understand it like putting down a bigger security deposit because your landlord knows the deposit value might fluctuate.

Here the trade-off is that DAI is decentralized because no single company controls it, and the system is more complex to understand. And if the collateral value drops too much , the smart contract (automated code) will automatically liquidate it to protect the peg.

3. Algorithmic Stablecoins

These types of stablecoins actually use code and smart contracts to control supply and demand automatically, and also there are no reserves backing them at all.

When the price goes above $1 the algorithm creates more tokens. And when it drops below $1, it burns tokens to reduce supply.

Warning: Algorithmic Stablecoins have a dark history. In May 2022. UST algorithmic stablecoin by Terra collapsed nearly from $1 to zero in days.

This wiped out almost $40 billion in value and crashed the entire crypto market so badly. After this disaster, algorithmic stablecoins became far less popular and are also considered as high-risk experiments than a reliable option.

4. Commodity-Backed Stablecoins

These types of stablecoins are pegged to physical assets like gold, silver or even real estate instead of dollars. For example Paxos Gold (PAXG) which represents one troy ounce of gold stored in professional vaults.

Who is using them? These types of stablecoins are used by people who want the benefits of crypto (fast transfer, self-custody) combined with traditional safe haven assets that have held value for thousands of years. This remains a niche category compared to the other three.

While choosing a stablecoins. Most beginners stick with Fiat-Backed options like USDC or USDT because they are simple, globally accepted and have the most transparent reserve system. Then learn safe storage using a self-custody wallet.

3. Why Do People Actually Use Stablecoins?

Now that you know what exactly stablecoins are in depth, the next question which in your mind might come is that “Why should I choose them over regular money or any other cryptocurrencies?”

Here are five practical reasons why millions of people around the world are using stablecoins and why should also start using it in 2026.

1. Park money during crypto market drops

Expert traders swap their Bitcoin or Ethereum into USDT or USDC when they see it falling. By this way they dont leave the crypto ecosystem, their amount has been secured at a stable price, they don’t need to cash out and way for their amount to come.

They just sit, enjoy and watch the market. And once they see that the market has again started to jump, they can also jump back in a few minutes instead of waiting for days for bank transfers.

You can think of this as moving a chess piece to a safe square while you plan your next move.

2. Send Money Across Borders Fast

If you want to send money to your family abroad, Or send salary to your WFH employee or freelancer who is from india. You will definitely do Wire Transfer which will cost you around $20 to $50 plus it will take 3 to 6 business days

But instead of wire transfer, stablecoin transfer would cost you under $1 in network fees plus it will arrive in minutes, sometimes even seconds.

Example: A freelance graphic designer from India works for a US client and gets paid in USDC. The network fee would be under $1 and the freelancer will get his payment in a few minutes.

He can then simply convert it to Indian Rupees on a local exchange and withdraw to her bank account.

Another way is that he can use Oppi Wallet, from where he can directly sell his Crypto (USDC) and get bank transfer. He also gets a virtual crypto card backed by Mastercard. He can use it anywhere Mastercard is accepted or even add it to his Google Pay for contactless payments.

3. Pay for Real Stuff Without Losing Value

With newer innovations happening, it is possible now to easily spend your crypto, especially stablecoins on actual products and services.

As we said, Oppi Wallet lets you spend your stablecoins and not only stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies as well using a crypto card.

Oppi Wallet provides a free virtual crypto card backed by mastercard to every user who sets up their wallet on Oppi Wallet. There is no eligibility criteria to get the card like other wallet apps have.

You can easily spend your USDT or USDC to buy netflix subscription, Apple Music subscription, buy groceries, shop online or in-store. In short you can buy at any place which accepts Mastercard. 

And for your kind information, Mastercard is accepted over 210+ countries with over 120+ million merchants.

Further you can add this card to your Apple Pay or Google Pay for contactless payments.

And not only this Oppi Wallet also offers a feature called Travel With Crypto through which you can easily book your hotels and flights with your stablecoins or any other crypto, skipping currency conversion headaches entirely.

If you want the full steps, read our Virtual Crypto Card Guide.

4. Trade and Swap Cryptocurrencies

On crypto exchanges, most trading happens in pairs like BTC/USDT instead of BTC/USD. Stablecoins make it easier to move funds between different exchanges or swap between cryptocurrencies without constantly going back to your bank account.

5. Save and Budget in Stable Value

Some smart people keep their part of emergency funds in stablecoins, especially those people whose local currency experiences high inflation.

This is not a suggestion to replace your bank account, but stablecoin offers and additional option for those people who want it.

Ready to start spending stablecoins? Here is a guide on how to create your Oppi Wallet account in under 10 minutes. Create your account now, Buy or receive stablecoins and start spending it in the real world.

4. How Stablecoins Stay Stable

Now many of you still don't know how stablecoins stay stable. Because Bitcoin can crash up to 30% to 40% in a week than how stablecoins manage to stay at $1?

The answer to these questions truly depends on which type you are using, but there are three main mechanisms which work together to maintain that peg.

Reserves (for Fiat-Backed)

This is the most simple method. The company behind the stablecoin holds actual dollars, government bonds or cash equivalents in bank account or custody with financial institutions.

So for every stablecoin token in circulation, there should be $1 worth of reserves backing it.

Circle, the company which owns and issues USDC, publishes monthly attestations. In simple words these are official reports from top accounting firms like Grant Thorton that verifies that the reserves actually exist or not.

And as of January, 2026, Circle holds over $72.1 billion in reserves to back every USDC token in circulation which is over $72.0 billion.

You can check January, 2026 reserves and circulation on the official website of Circle in the USDC section.

Over-Collateralization (For Crypto-Backed)

Since we all know that cryptocurrency themselves are volatile, that is why stablecoins backed by crypto require you to lock up more value than you are borrowing.

You can think of it like this: if you want to create $100 worth of DAI stablecoins, you must deposit $150 or even $200 worth of Ethereum as collateral.

And if the collateral value drops too much, a smart contract basically which is an automated code running on the blockchain will automatically liquidate part of your collateral to protect the system and keep DAI pegged to $1.

Supply and Demand Balancing (For Algorithmic)

Algorithmic stablecoins use code to automatically mint (create) or burn (destroy) tokens based on the price. So if the price goes above $1, the system will automatically create more tokens to bring it down. And if it drops below$1, it will burn tokens to reduce supply.

This is known as the riskiest method and has led to disastrous failures in the past.

Note: Even with these mechanisms, do remember that stablecoins can and do lose their peg temporarily or permanently. USDC briefly dropped to $0.88 in March, 2023 during the Silicon Valley Bank crisis before recovering. So no stablecoin is guaranteed to stay at $1 forever.

5. Are Stablecoins Actually Safe?

This is one of the important questions in this guide, so let us give you an honest answer for this in short: Stablecoins are safer than Bitcoin or Ethereum for holding value, but they are absolutely not risk free.

The Honest Answer: Safer Than Bitcoin, But Not Risk-Free

Stablecoins do not go down or jump like other cryptocurrencies, which makes them more predictable. However, this does not mean that they are as safe as the real money in your bank account.

Here are four main risks which you need to understand before stablecoins

Stablecoins do not swing wildly like other cryptocurrencies, which makes them more predictable. However, that does not mean they are as safe as money in your bank account. Here are the four main risks you need to understand before using stablecoins.

Risk #1: Depeg Events

A “depeg” happens when a stablecoin price drops below or spikes above its target value of $1. In March 2026, USDC briefly depegged to $0.88 after Silicon Valley Bank Collapsed, because Circle had their $3.3 billion stuck in that bank.

Though the price recovered to $1 within days one the regulators guaranteed deposits, but those were some scary hours for those people holding USDC

And most fiat- backed stablecoins recover quickly from small depegs. But algorithmic stablecoins like Terra’s UST failed completely after dropping from $1 to nearly zero and then never recovering.

Risk #2: Issuer and Reserve Risk

When you hold a stablecoin, you are trusting the company behind it that they are telling the truth about the dollars they claim to hold.

Tether, the issuer of USDT, Top stablecoin, have faced questions about reserve transparency over the years, though they are now publishing quarterly attestation and is the largest stablecoin in the world currency with over #185 billion in circulation as of January 2026.

Solution: When you want to go with stablecoins then choose those who publish regular audits and transparent about reserve reports. USDC publishes monthly attestations from Grant Thornton which shows exactly what backs each token.

Risk #3: Platform Risk

If you use any exchange and keep your stablecoins on that exchange, and if that exchange gets hacked or freezes your withdrawal due to any reason, then your funds are stuck.

Don’t forget when FTX collapsed in November 2022. Millions of dollars in stablecoins were trapped on that platform.

Solution: Many people are shifting to self custody wallets like Oppi and Trust Wallet because of these reasons only. As in self-custody wallets you control your private keys.

And you may have heard this golden rule of crypto “Not your keys, not your crypto”. Learn more about self-custody wallets and why it matters in our complete guide.

Risk #4: Scams and Fake Tokens

Many scammers create fake tokens with names like “USD Stable” or “TetherUSD” which look real but they are not, even if they are not pegged to anything. And many newcomers fall in this trap and end up losing some amount as they do not check the official contract address.

Solution: Always double check the contract address on official websites. Stick only to well-established stablecoins like USDT, USDC and DAI which have been around for years.

What You Should Do

Here is your action plan for using stablecoins safely:

  • Expand your portfolio across different assets. Never put all your savings in stablecoins.

  • Always give your first priority to established stablecoins with transparent reserve systems.

  • Store them in a self-custody wallet where you control your recovery phrase.

  • Keep in mind that stablecoins are FDIC insured. Whereas your traditional bank accounts are.

Stablecoins are very useful tools when they are used wisely, but treat them only as a part of broader financial strategy and not as a replacement for insured bank deposits.

6. Stablecoins vs Regular Bank Money: What's Different?

Before deciding whether stablecoins are right for you or not, let’s see how they are compared to the money sitting in your bank account. Both hold dollars, but they work very differently in practice.

What You're Comparing

Bank Account (USD)

Stablecoin (USDC)

Speed

Wire transfers: 1-5 days

Minutes to hours

Fees for sending

$15-$50 wire fee

$0.10-$4 network fee

Protection

FDIC insured up to $250,000

No government insurance

Reversibility

Can dispute/chargeback

Transactions are final

Control

Bank can freeze account

You control keys in self-custody

Access

Need bank approval

Open wallet anytime

Where to spend

Everywhere

Growing (virtual crypto cards help)

Let’s see the breakdown of what these differences mean in real life:

Speed and Fees:

Speed and Fees are where the Stablecoins shine. Because sending a $1,000 dollar to another country can take up to days through a bank and costs up to $20 to $50. Whereas the same transfer in USDC takes under 10 minutes and costs around $2 in network fees.

Protection:

Protection is where banks win. Your bank account is FDIC insured up to $250,000 (Depends country wise, you can check for your country), which means that the government protects your money even if the bank fails.

Whereas, Stablecoins have no such guarantee. If the issuing company collapses, you could lose everything.

Control:

Control works differently for each. Banks can freeze your account if they suspect fraud or receive a legal order. But with a self-custody wallet you control your private keys and seed phrases. This means that no one can access your funds without your key.

But do remember that as USDT, USDC and other fiat backed stablecoins are issued from centralized companies, the government can give them orders to freeze your assets. Though you will see them in your wallet but cannot use them.

Do remember that these controls are both powerful and risky because if you lose your keys, nobody can help you recover them.

Reversibility:

Reversibility matters for fraud protection. If someone steals your credit card and charges $1,000, you can simply dispute it and get that money back. Whereas stablecoin transactions are final. Once you send, they cannot be reversed or charged back.

Takeaways

Stablecoins offer speed, low fees and control but they come with less protection. Whereas bank money is insured, reversible and accepted everywhere but is slower and more expensive to move internationally.

Most of the people are following a smart strategy by using both for different purposes rather than choosing one over the other.

You can think of it this way: Your bank as your financial foundation and stablecoins as your fast moving tool for some specific tasks like international payments for crypto trading.

If you're wondering which wallet to choose, read our expert guide on how to choose a crypto wallet.

7. Stablecoins Are Getting Regulated (2026 Update)

If you have been following news related to crypto, then you have probably noticed that the governments worldwide are finally creating clear rules for stablecoins.

Now this matters much because stablecoins are moving from the edge of finance into mainstream payment systems, and regulation determines whether that happens safely.

What's Happening in 2026

United States:

The GENIUS (The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins) Act was signed as law in July, 2025 and is now being enforced.

This act requires issuers like Circle, Tether and more to maintain 1:1 reserves which are backed by US Dollars or short-term Treasury bonds, publish monthly reserve reports, and obtain bank-like licenses from federal or state regulators.

To protect everyday users, the law also includes the "Hands Off My Money" Rule (No Commingling). This rule ensures that the cash and bonds which are used for reserves are kept in a separate digital vault that is legally protected and cannot be used for any business expenses. Stablecoin companies are strictly prohibited from using these reserves to pay their own bill or play any risky side-bets.

They also have a rule that Truth-in-advertising is required, companies cannot trick you into any false narratives like they are government-backed or covered by FDIC (an insurance that protects regular bank accounts). They must be crystal clear about each and everything.

These companies must follow the law regarding identity and security, just like a bank. This involves Know Your Customer (KYC) where they have to check your ID before you use the services, and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) where they have to monitor for suspicious activity to prevent criminals from using the platform.

While these are the most important highlights for users, there are many more technical rules regarding capital requirements and emergency procedures that these companies must now follow to stay in business.

United Kingdom:

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) made stablecoin payments their top priority for 2026. They have opened a regulatory sandbox where companies can test UK-issued stablecoins under supervision before launching them publicly.

The UK parliament provided official regulation status to stablecoins via the FSMA 2023 law, which started treating them as regulated financial activities, rather than unregulated “wild west”. 

Their primary focus is on pound sterling, especially stablecoins backed 1:1 by British Pounds (£ GBP) to strengthen the domestic digital economy.

Just like the US, stablecoins issuers must adhere to segregated reserves. Which mandates issuers to keep reserves entirely separated from companies operational funds, which protect users if the company goes bankrupt.

Side by side, the UK government and the Bank of England are also engaged in exploring the “digital pound”.

FCA also acts as the watchdog, it is the main body which is enforcing these new rules which are expected to be fully live by late 2027.

There are more detailed rules regarding technical aspects and transparency that companies will need to follow.

European Union:

The MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulations now require licensed issuers, transparent white papers, and secure reserves held separately from company funds.

Under the new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) rules, several changes have been made to make using stablecoins much safer for regular people.

First, users are now guaranteed redemption rights. This means that if you want your real money back, the company which issues the particular stablecoin has to give it to the user at full value whenever asked, and they are also not allowed to charge any fee for doing so.

Second, Civil Liability. You can think of this as a truth-in-advertising rule. So if a company lies or leaves out an important detail in their official document which is called White Papers (manual or blueprint of how the coins works), then a user can sue them in court for any money they lose because of the dishonesty.

Another rule is passporting. You can think of this like a Golden ticket for the companies. So if a company gets approved and licensed in one European country, they are automatically allowed to operate in every other country in the European Union and that without having to ask for permission again.

What This Means for You

More transparency and potentially safer stablecoins. Because issuers must now prove that they are holding real reserves and following rules, this reduces the risk of another collapse like Terra/Luna.

Big companies like PayPal have already launched their own regulated stablecoin (PayPal USD) following these new rules and regulations, which signals that traditional finance has started taking stablecoins seriously.

Here the good news is that new regulations make stablecoins more trustworthy for people who want speed and low fees and that too without wild risk.

But with coming new rules and regulations, some decentralization benefits might decrease as the government requires more oversight and licensing. The “anyone can create a stablecoin” era is ending, though this improves safety but reduces open innovation.

You can think of 2026 as the year stablecoins graduated from experimental tech to a regulated financial tool.

8. How to choose a stablecoin?

When you are ready to buy and use your first stablecoin, it is very important to choose the right one so you get both safety and convenience. Here is a simple checklist to help you decide:

Backed by what?

Look out for stablecoins which are backed by USD cash or government bonds. This is the simplest and most transparent backing method.

Who issues it?

Try to stick with established companies or issuers like Circle (issues USDC), PAXOS, Tether (issues USDT). Because these companies have been operating for years and have a proven track record.

Are reserves public?

The issuer is publishing monthly attestations or not. Attestations are official reports from accounting firms which verifies that reserves actually exist or not. Circle publishes these reports every month for USDC.

Can you redeem it?

Check if they are providing a redemption process or not. This is where you can exchange the stablecoin for actual dollars. This proves that the peg is backed by real value.

Which Blockchain?

Stablecoins run on different blockchains like Ethereum, Solana or Polygon. Because the blockchain affects the transaction fees and speed. Ethereum is more widely supported but it has higher fees compared to others, whereas Solana is faster and cheaper.

Is It Widely Used?

High trading volume means that stablecoin is accepted on more exchanges and platforms, which makes it easier to use anywhere.

Most beginners start with USDT or USDC because they are widely accepted, have transparent reserve processes and work on multiple blockchains.

Where to store your stablecoins safely?

To store your stablecoins safely you can use a self-custody wallet like Oppi Wallet. Oppi Wallet is a self-custody crypto wallet which supports 5 major blockchains and over 40+ cryptocurrencies including all major stablecoins like USDT, USDC, DAI and more.

In Oppi, you control your keys, which means that you are the one who fully controls your crypto.

9. Getting Started With Your First Stablecoin

You are still not ready to use your Stablecoin? Here is your step-by-step plan to get started safely, even if you know nothing about cryptocurrencies.

Step 1: Choose Your Wallet

First of all, you need a self custody wallet which supports stablecoins. Oppi Wallet works perfectly for this as it supports all major stablecoins including USDC, USDT and DAI.

Now that you have selected a self-custody wallet which means that you control your crypto instead of leaving it on an exchange where the platform controls it.

Now when you set up your Oppi Wallet, it will give you a recovery phrase (also called as seed phrase), which is usually 12-words. You have to write this down on paper and store it somewhere safe like in a locked drawer or safe.

Never store your recovery phrase digitally anywhere or even don’t share it with anyone. Because this phrase is the only way to recover your wallet if you ever lose your phone.

Step 2: Buy or Receive Stablecoins

There are three ways with which you can get your first stablecoin.

First, Exchange. You can simply buy your first stablecoin from an exchange like Coinbase, Binance or Kraken and then you can transfer it to your Oppi Wallet.

Second, there is a wallet which offers built-in buy function inside the app. Oppi Wallet is one of them.

You can simply tap on the Buy button on your homepage, scroll and find the coin which you want, you can also search by the coin name, or manually add the coin if not finding it and it is available on the supported blockchain.

Enter how much you want, complete your payment. Congratulations, you have successfully bought your first stablecoin and stored it securely at the same time.

Another way is to get from a person, also known as P2P, You can buy your first stablecoin from anyone like your friend, family member, a random person, anyone.

To get you have to first ask them, if they agree. Click on the receive button in Oppi Wallet dashboard, You will see your QR code and address. Either you can send your address or send a QR code.

Before sending your address, check it multiple times as many hackers create malware which changes your address with their identical address. To avoid this and other mistakes, read our guide on 5 common crypto mistakes beginners make and how to avoid them.

This malware enters your device when you download a malicious app. It will not do anything else due to which you think that your phone is clean but when you perform this action it will activate and change the wallet address.

Step 3: Start Using Them

Once you have stablecoins, you can hold them as stable value when crypto markets are volatile. You can swap them with other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum whenever you want.

You can also spend them in the real-world with Oppi Wallet’s free virtual crypto card backed by Mastercard where mastercard is accepted.

Not only that but you can book flights and hotels directly with your Stablecoins from the Oppi Wallet app using Oppi Travel With Crypto feature. You don’t have to change it to local currency and pay high foreign exchange.

Step 4: Keep Them Safe

Never share your recovery phrase with anyone, not even with the Oppi Wallet customer support team, or the customer support team from any other wallet app.

Always double check wallet addresses before sending crypto because transactions are final and cannot be reversed. Try sending small amounts first to verify.

Use a self custody wallet with strong security features like PIN protection, biometric authentication and 2 factor authentication. And Oppi Wallet gives the option of all these 3 security features which you can enable from settings.

Now that you are ready to start. Download Oppi Wallet now to start storing your USDC, USDT, DAI and 40+ other cryptocurrencies safely

Ready to start? Download Oppi Wallet to store USDC, USDT, DAI, and 40+ other cryptocurrencies safely. Your keys, your control. Learn how to protect your seed phrase and set up Oppi Wallet in under 10 minutes with our beginner guides.

Download Oppi Wallet: Apple App Store for iOS users | Google Play Store for Android users

10. Frequently Asked Questions about Stablecoins

Q. Can stablecoins lose value?

Ans. Yes, stablecoins can “depeg” temporarily or permanently. Depegging means the stablecoin’s price drops below or rises above its target value of $1. Major stablecoins like USDT and USDC have stayed very close to $1 throughout their history, but there is always risk.

USDC concisely dropped to $0.88 in March 2023 before recovering. And that is why never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Q. Are Stablecoins legal in the USA?

Ans. Yes, it is completely legal to use stablecoins in the USA and almost all over the world. However, in the USA, issuing a stablecoin now requires proper licensing in some states, and the GENIUS Act has created federal rules that took effect in 2026. As a user you can buy, hold and spend stablecoins without any legal concerns.

Q. Do I pay taxes on stablecoins?

Ans. In most countries, swapping one cryptocurrency to a stablecoin may be considered a taxable event if you have made a profit on the first crypto. Though simply holding stablecoins in not taxable. But spending stablecoins might trigger capital gains reporting.

Tax rules are complex and we would suggest consulting with a tax professional for your specific situation.

Q. What happens if the company behind a stablecoin goes bankrupt?

Ans. It totally depends on how the reserves were kept. Apparently, if Circle (issuer of USDC) or Tether (issuer of USDT) wents bankrupt, then the reserves should be returned to token holders since they are held separately.

However, the legal process could be messy and take time. This is exactly why reserve transparency and regular audits matter so much.

Q. Can I earn interest on Stablecoins?

Ans. Some DeFi (decentralized finance) platforms offer yields of 3% to 10% on stablecoins. However, this adds a significant risk because your stablecoins are lent out or used in complex protocols.

And if you are beginners with stablecoins, then first focus on how stablecoins work first before chasing yield opportunities.

Q. Can I use stablecoins without crypto knowledge?

Ans. Basic knowledge surely helps, but modern wallets are making stablecoins more easier to use. New wallet apps like Oppi have made spending, buying, selling, sending, and receiving crypto as easy as easy using PayPal or Venmo. Always start small and keep learning as you move ahead, never rush into anything which you do not know fully.

11. Conclusion

Stablecoins have successfully bridged the gap between cryptocurrency innovation and traditional money stability. They are solving real world problems like expensive international transfers, slow payment processing, and most importantly a stable value in today’s volatile crypto markets.

Still they are not perfect and carry risks like depegging events and issues transparency concerns, stablecoins have proven their usefulness for millions of people worldwide. With more than $300 billion in circulation as of today's date, stablecoins have moved away from experimental technology to mainstream financial tools.

The year 2026 will be a turning point. New regulations in the US, UK, EU and other countries are making stablecoins much safer and more transparent than ever before. Major companies like PayPal have launched their own regulated stablecoin which shows that traditional finance is taking this technology seriously.

The best way to correctly understand about stablecoins is not to start using them. Instead, it is to start using them. You can start with a small amount, maybe $20 or $50 worth of USDC.

Send it to someone, hold it during market drops, or try spending it with a crypto card. Because we believe that experience teaches more than any guide ever could.

And this does not mean that you should not read any guide, you should read. But with that you should use it practically too.

With the right self-custody wallet and proper safety practices like protecting your recovery phrase, storing multiple copies at safer places, or verifying address before the transaction makes stablecoins become a valuable part of your financial toolkit.

Are you ready to experience stablecoins yourself? Download Oppi Wallet now and start storing your favorite Stablecoins like USDC, USDC, DAI, and 40+ other cryptocurrencies securely.

Spend them anywhere with our free virtual crypto card backed with Mastercard or start booking your flight and hotels from your crypto using the Oppi Wallet app. Your keys. Your money. Your control.

Download Oppi Wallet from Apple App Store for iOS and from Google Play Store for Android.