Blockchain for Beginners series

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 When people hear "cryptocurrency," they often picture wild price swings and speculative assets. But not all digital currencies are volatile.

Some are designed for stability. And they’re quietly powering a major shift in how money moves.

They’re called stablecoins—and they’re becoming a critical link between traditional finance and the blockchain-based economy.

From BlackRock to JPMorgan, the world’s largest institutions are already using them. And if you're watching where the future of money is going, this is a space to understand.

What Is a Stablecoin? A stablecoin is a digital asset built on blockchain technology that’s designed to maintain a stable value—usually pegged 1:1 to a fiat currency like the U.S. dollar or euro.

Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, stablecoins aren’t meant to rise and fall in price. They’re meant to hold their value—and make it easy to move money globally, instantly, and securely.

There are three core types:

🔹 Fiat-Backed (like USDC or USDT): Each digital coin is backed by real assets in reserve—like cash or short-term U.S. Treasuries.

🔹 Crypto-Collateralized (like DAI): These are backed by other cryptocurrencies and managed by smart contracts to maintain stability.

🔹 Algorithmic: These use software algorithms to manage supply and demand—though many have proven unstable and have lost user trust.

Today, the most widely used stablecoins are fiat-backed—and that’s where the biggest players are building.

Real-World Stablecoin Examples USDC (USD Coin) Created by Circle and governed by the Centre consortium (which includes Coinbase), USDC is a fully reserved digital dollar. It’s regularly audited and backed by U.S. Treasuries. 

🔹 Used by businesses, payment platforms, and institutions globally 

🔹 Integrated into Visa’s global payments network 

🔹 Supported by companies like Shopify and Stripe

USDT (Tether) USDT is the most traded stablecoin in the world. It was one of the first on the market and is widely used for crypto trading and transfers.

RLUSD (Real USD) A newer entrant launched by Ripple, RLUSD is designed for regulated stablecoin use on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum. 

🔹 Fully backed by U.S. dollar deposits 

🔹 Will serve as a bridge between banks, enterprises, and blockchain ecosystems 

🔹 Supports instant settlement and tokenized asset use cases

Why Stablecoins Matter 

Stablecoins are the bridge between blockchain and banking.

They allow money to move 24/7, across borders, with near-zero cost. And they remove the volatility barrier that makes some digital currencies hard to use for everyday transactions.

Here’s what they unlock:

🔹 Fast, low-cost payments — across countries, currencies, and platforms

🔹 Programmable money — send, split, or hold funds based on smart contract rules 

🔹 Access to digital finance — especially for those without full access to banks 

🔹 Liquidity in DeFi and tokenized markets — where stable assets are essential

They bring the speed of crypto with the stability of fiat.

JPMorgan, BlackRock are part of the shift in motion. This is no longer just theory. It’s already happening, and at the highest levels of finance.

JPMorgan Created its own stablecoin: JPM Coin 

🔹 Used to settle over $1 billion per day in internal transfers 

🔹 Connected to Onyx, JPMorgan’s blockchain platform 

🔹 Powers cross-border payments and tokenized securities settlement

BlackRock Launched BUIDL, a tokenized fund on Ethereum, and recently partnered with Circle (issuer of USDC). 

🔹 Larry Fink has spoken about the role of tokenization in transforming capital markets 

🔹 BlackRock now holds reserve assets backing USDC, signaling growing confidence in stablecoins as infrastructure

These aren’t small crypto startups. These are the financial giants leading the charge into digital money.

Where SWIFT Fits In 

SWIFT is the legacy messaging network used by over 11,000 banks worldwide to move money and communicate transactions.

And even they are adapting.

SWIFT has already begun integrating blockchain interoperability—allowing digital asset platforms and traditional banks to settle transactions across networks. They are actively working with Chainlink and other partners to bring stablecoins and tokenized assets into their infrastructure.

This shift shows us something critical:

🔹 Even the oldest financial institutions are preparing for a world where stablecoins and tokenized assets play a central role. 

🔹 They’re not resisting the change—they’re integrating with it.

What About DTCC? The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) is one of the most important—but often overlooked—entities in global finance.

It processes over $2 quadrillion in transactions annually and provides clearing, settlement, and information services for nearly all securities traded in the U.S.

In 2023, DTCC partnered with Chainlink and SWIFT to test tokenized asset settlements across public and private blockchains. Their goal? Seamlessly move traditional financial assets across digital platforms.

This matters because: 

🔹 DTCC is actively integrating blockchain into its infrastructure 

🔹 It signals that tokenized assets are no longer an experiment—they are becoming the next phase of market evolution

For Individuals In countries with unstable currencies, millions are turning to stablecoins like USDT or USDC to protect their savings and access digital dollars. From freelancers in Argentina to families in Lebanon, stablecoins are becoming a lifeline—offering value stability where banks fall short.

They also enable fast, low-cost remittances, allowing workers to send money home without relying on high-fee services like Western Union.

For Businesses From paying global contractors instantly to managing digital cash flow, businesses are using stablecoins to modernize operations. Platforms like Shopify, Stripe, and even Visa are integrating stablecoin payments—proving this isn’t an experiment; it’s infrastructure.

Whether it’s settling invoices in USDC or automating payroll with programmable money, stablecoins are opening up a more efficient, borderless financial system for companies of all sizes.

For Creators and Platforms Content creators, app developers, and educators are beginning to explore stablecoins for tipping, microtransactions, and subscription models. With programmable features built in, stablecoins allow for flexible monetization that traditional payment systems can’t match.

What This Means for the Future Stablecoins may be the least flashy part of crypto—but they’re becoming the most important tool in building the next financial system.

They offer the trust of traditional money, with the speed and flexibility of blockchain.

And as governments, corporations, and everyday users adopt them, they are laying the groundwork for a global financial system that runs in real time, without borders, and without friction.

If you want to understand how the future of money is being built—

Start with stablecoins.

by Christie Russ

Most of the world doesn’t realize it yet—but blockchain is quietly reshaping the systems we use every day.

Not through flashy apps or major announcements. But through invisible, foundational upgrades—similar to how the internet, cloud computing, and smartphones transformed our lives without us needing to understand how they worked.

Blockchain isn’t something you’ll “start using” one day. It’s already working behind the scenes to make everyday systems faster, safer, and smarter. And before long, you’ll feel its presence in how you pay, verify your identity, track goods, protect data, and interact online.

You didn’t have to understand how the internet works to benefit from it. The same is true with blockchain. It’s not about becoming a tech expert—it’s about recognizing how this new layer of infrastructure is reshaping the systems around us.

You’ll benefit from blockchain without even knowing it’s there.

• Money moves instantly across borders
• Your identity can be verified without exposing personal details
• You can confirm that a product is real before buying it
• Healthcare records follow you securely between doctors
• Sensitive data becomes harder to steal or fake

Blockchain is the upgrade that quietly changes everything underneath your digital life.

Blockchain isn’t just another app. It’s rebuilding the architecture of how information, value, and identity move online. It’s solving problems we’ve been living with for years, like fraud, delays, data breaches, and lack of transparency.

Think of it like a behind-the-scenes renovation. You’ll still walk through the front door—but now the plumbing, wiring, and foundation are stronger, smarter, and more secure.

Here’s what that really means:

• You control your data: Instead of big companies storing your information, you hold it in a secure digital wallet—and decide who gets to see it.
• You don’t need middlemen: Blockchain replaces traditional gatekeepers (banks, brokers, platforms) with automated, trusted systems that work 24/7.
• You aren’t stuck in silos: Blockchain lets apps and services speak the same digital language, so you can move freely across platforms and systems.

You won’t see the tech—but you’ll feel the difference: less friction, more speed, and more control.

Every few decades, we experience a technological leap that changes how the world operates.

The internet redefined communication. Smartphones redefined convenience. Blockchain is redefining trust—in systems, transactions, identities, and ownership.

Here’s how:

• Tamper-proof data: Once information is recorded on a blockchain, it can’t be altered. That means more reliable records and fewer chances for fraud.
• Automated trust: Smart contracts allow agreements to execute automatically, removing the need to “trust” the other party.
• No single point of failure: Unlike centralized systems, blockchain is decentralized—so it’s harder to shut down, hack, or manipulate.

It’s like upgrading from a local hard drive to a global, secure network that’s always on and always working in your favor.

• Global payments: Banks like JPMorgan and Santander are using blockchain to move money faster and cheaper across borders.
• Product tracking: Walmart, LVMH, and other retailers are using blockchain to confirm that products—from groceries to handbags—are authentic and safe.
• Digital ID: Countries like Estonia and Switzerland are using blockchain to give people full control over their digital identities.
• Healthcare: Companies are testing blockchain to let patients carry their health records securely and share them instantly with doctors anywhere in the world.

You’re not waiting for the future. It’s already unfolding—quietly, powerfully, and globally.

Just like cloud computing and Wi-Fi, blockchain isn’t something most people notice until it’s everywhere.

We’re in the phase where the foundation is being built. It may still seem “techy,” but it’s being integrated into services you already use—payments, apps, government platforms, and more.

Eventually, blockchain will just be part of life—powering systems in the background, without you needing to know how it works.

Blockchain isn’t about hype or headlines. It’s a silent upgrade to how our digital world runs.

And as it continues to evolve, it will unlock a future where trust is built in, data is protected, and the systems we rely on every day become smarter, faster, and more secure.

You don’t need to understand the code behind it. You’ll simply feel the benefits in how the world starts to work better—one silent upgrade at a time.

by Christie Russ