Volatile crypto is bad for payments and savings, so stablecoins hold a steady value. Types: fiat-backed (USDC, USDT — a company holds real dollars/reserves), crypto-collateralized (DAI — over-collateralized by crypto), and algorithmic (supply adjusts to hold the peg). They're the settlement layer of DeFi, but each type carries its own risk: custodian trust, collateral crashes, or peg failure.