Core Concepts
Last updated
Last updated
As the adoption of cryptocurrencies grows, a common obstacle deterring new adoption by users is price volatility, particularly when considering these assets for everyday transactions. Stablecoins offer a solution to this volatility by maintaining a consistent value, pegged to traditional assets like the US Dollar. Prominent examples include Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC), and Binance USD (BUSD). The stablecoin landscape also features asset-backed options such as MakerDAO's DAI, which is crypto-secured, and Paxos Gold (PAXG), backed by physical gold. These stable assets have not only transformed crypto trading by offering a secure place to store value temporarily but also have the potential to revolutionize e-commerce by providing a stable medium for online transactions.
A stablecoin is a specialized form of cryptocurrency engineered to maintain a stable value by pegging it to an external asset, such as a fiat currency like the US Dollar or a commodity like gold. By doing so, stablecoins seek to combine the programmability and ease of transfer inherent in cryptocurrencies with the price stability typically associated with traditional currencies. This low-volatility characteristic makes stablecoins particularly useful for transactions, cross-border payments, and as a stable asset within decentralized finance ecosystems.
Despite its many advantages, Hedera currently lacks a ready-to-use stablecoin framework. Stablecoin Studio aims to fill that void by offering a comprehensive stablecoin solution tailored to Hedera’s architecture. Developers will be equipped with a suite of resources, including essential tools, documentation, and sample code, allowing them to create applications that make use of stablecoins, such as digital wallets. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the seamless integration of stablecoins into a variety of platforms and applications, thereby boosting Hedera’s utility and adoption.
Stablecoin Studio is an open-source solution that simplifies and enhances the granularity of access control and permission management when issuing stablecoins using Hedera network services. Utilizing a hybrid solution, the platform leverages both Hedera Token Service (HTS) and Hedera Smart Contract Service (HSCS), offering interoperability with Solidity Smart Contracts. This adds an extra layer of flexibility and capability for stablecoin issuers. As an all-in-one toolkit, this project enables stablecoin issuers to easily deploy applications and oversee operations via a comprehensive management toolkit, streamlining digital asset operations.
The toolkit offers proof-of-reserve (PoR) functionality that utilizes existing systems or on-chain oracles to bolster the ability to provide transparency in disclosure while seamless custody provider integrations ease development and reduce time-to-market.
Complemented by advanced Hedera-native Know Your Customer (KYC) / Anti-Money Laundering (AML) account flags and integrated service provider hooks, Stablecoin Studio gives issuers new ways to manage compliance and security.
The core components of Stablecoin Studio include these four components that help simplify stablecoin creation and management:
Stablecoin Studio includes Hedera-native token administration functionalities, enabling issuers to easily burn, mint (cash-in), freeze, wipe, and pause stablecoins. Account-based permissions, like native KYC account flags, provide compliance configurations when connecting Stablecoin Studio to custody providers and KYC/AML services.
Issuers can effortlessly create new tokens, increasing the total supply of the stablecoin. Minting is often subject to regulatory compliance and internal governance.
The platform allows issuers to reduce the overall token supply by 'burning' or destroying tokens, usually in a controlled and auditable manner.
For various compliance-related or operational reasons, Stablecoin Studio provides the option to freeze tokens, making them non-transferable until further actions are taken.
The platform includes a pause functionality, enabling issuers to temporarily halt all token-related activities in emergencies or for scheduled maintenance.
Incorporate KYC checks directly into the token issuance and management process. These flags serve as compliance markers, indicating whether an account has been verified for KYC requirements.
Stablecoin Studio is designed to connect seamlessly with third-party custody solutions, offering an extra layer of security for asset management.
The Stablecoin Studio SDK provides integrations into third-party providers who can fully support your stablecoin offering on the public Hedera network. These providers offer solutions for KYC/AML, custody, wallets, infrastructure management, smart contract monitoring, regulatory compliance, and more.
To ensure the security and transparency of your stablecoin, Stablecoin Studio offers a proof-of-reserve (PoR) feature. This feature serves two key objectives: preventing under-collateralization and providing transparent asset backing for your stablecoin. The PoR system employs automated verification, where off-chain assets are continually monitored through oracles or similar mechanisms. These monitoring systems subsequently update a dedicated reserve contract to reflect changes in the asset value accurately.
Before you mint new tokens, a smart contract automatically checks this reserve contract. Minting is authorized only when sufficient reserve assets are available to back the new tokens. For instance, let's say you have enabled PoR with a reserve of 1,000 units. You can comfortably mint up to 900 tokens. However, if you attempt to mint an additional 100 tokens, the smart contract will halt the process due to insufficient reserves. You also have the flexibility to update these reserves either manually or programmatically as per your operational requirements.
Lastly, when using Stablecoin Studio, you can link an existing Oracle-fed reserve contract or let the platform automatically deploy a new one. Both options aim to guarantee the stability of your stablecoin and foster user trust.
At a functional level, Stablecoin Studio provides a comprehensive architecture that enables developers to create, manage, and operate stablecoins on the Hedera network using pre-built “factory smart contracts” audited by CertiK. The architecture consists of several components that work together to facilitate the deployment and management of stablecoins:
SDK: The Software Development Kit (SDK) provides a set of tools and libraries for developers to build and deploy stablecoin applications on the Hedera network. It simplifies the process of interacting with Stablecoin Studio’s “factory contracts” used to create and manage stablecoins.
CLI: The Command Line Interface (CLI) offers a user-friendly way for developers to interact with the SDK and manage stablecoins. It allows developers to perform various operations, such as creating, managing, and operating stablecoins using simple commands.
Web UI: The User Interface (UI) component provides a graphical interface for developers and users to interact with stablecoins on the Hedera network. It simplifies the process of managing and operating stablecoins for non-technical users.
When you initiate the creation process using the SDK, CLI, or Web UI, two smart contracts are deployed: The Hedera Token Manager Proxy and the Hedera Token Manager. The former oversees the ownership of the latter, which in turn is responsible for managing the permissions and functionalities of your stablecoin.
As a stablecoin admin/delegate, you’ll manage your stablecoin using the Hedera Token Manager smart contract, offering granular control and flexibility. End-users will not need to navigate the complexities of smart contracts — they can interact directly with your stablecoin using the Hedera Token Service (HTS), ensuring a more convenient, cost-effective, and scalable experience.
