Stablecoin adoption rises as bitcoin price fluctuates

For beginners in the Bitcoin space, there is a term you should be conversant with, and that is volatility.

But what is volatility in Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is termed volatile because of how it fluctuates in price. Because bitcoin is a volatile asset, its volatile nature serves as an insight in measuring the opportunity and risk associated with it.

Volatility can best be explained by how quickly bitcoin changes in market price. A good example is the price of bitcoin rising to $32,500 and falling within seconds to $30,000. This movement in price is the volatile nature of the bitcoin asset. 

Due to factors like the digital nature of bitcoin, the low-level regulation, and more importantly, the smaller market size due to its recency, Bitcoin is still quite volatile compared to other types of financial assets.

However, the volatile nature of bitcoin is responsible for its mass adoption and investment. This volatile nature has allowed investors to make massive returns within a short time.

An example is the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) - assets under its management rose by 10 times to $20 billion last year. This is one of the many examples of short term gains due to the volatile nature of bitcoin. Traders have taken advantage of this as they invest in Bitcoin.

The volatile nature of Bitcoin may not always come as an advantage, though.

Consider using Bitcoin as a medium of exchange such as for payment for goods. While we know the ease of transacting with Bitcoin across international borders. It presents a challenge when there is price fluctuation because it may significantly alter the value of the Bitcoin sent.

As it is ideal for a payment method to store the value of funds sent, with Bitcoin, its highly volatile nature does not always allow this.

Over time, however, as the market size increases substantially as a result of mass adoption by investors and a more stable environment, Bitcoin’s volatility will decrease. But for now, due to the high volatility, stablecoins have come to play a central role in providing a solution to users of Bitcoin.

What are Stablecoins?

Stablecoin is a digital currency designed to serve as an equivalent to fiat currency. They are transferable like every other digital currency and allow users to adapt it for usage.

Unlike other cryptocurrencies, stablecoins do not experience high volatility. They are not subject to price movement and can serve an underlying value to any asset they emulate. It makes stablecoins preferable amidst the volatile market.

One of the most popular use cases for stablecoins is to switch from Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies while trading in the crypto market.

For instance, if you purchase bitcoin at $30,200 utilising the hodling strategy while expecting bitcoin to rise in market price. When the price of bitcoin rises to $34,000, due to its volatile nature you expect that it might experience a downward surge in price anytime, so, to not lose the profit you have gained, stablecoins can be used to protect that value and provide a hedge against volatility.

Because stablecoins are not subject to price movements and serve as an underlying asset of 1-to-1 ratio when used to hedge against volatility in trading, they have become popular amongst traders.

Read Also: How to Save with Stablecoin and Hedge Against Devaluation

Stablecoins have presented a better alternative for hedging against the bitcoin volatility and this has influenced the massive adoption of its use. They provide a form of stability in a highly volatile market.

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