Stablecoins are a special type of cryptocurrency that, unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, have low volatility. Their main function is to provide stability in value amidst the high variability of the crypto market. They are tied to the prices of exchange-traded goods (gold, oil) or fiat currencies (dollar, euro, yuan), which allows for a relatively constant exchange rate.

Their main advantage is that they allow for the preservation of money in the digital equivalent of stable fiat currencies (dollar, euro) while still having all the advantages of crypto: decentralization, security, and transaction speed.

Thus, stablecoins address one of the key issues of the crypto market - high volatility. They make cryptocurrencies a more reliable means of saving and accumulating money.

Moreover, stablecoins have a different mechanism of operation. Unlike decentralized cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, many popular stablecoins (Tether, USD Coin) have a centralized management structure. This allows for more active regulation of token issuance and maintenance of exchange rate stability.