Here’s how to build a reserve that maintains a balance between stability and yield, and builds a collateral mechanism that is not entirely exposed to the volatility of the crypto market.
Translation of an article published in BeBeez Magazine no. 37 of December 11, 2025
by Stefania Peveraro
As ten European banking giants, including Italy’s Unicredit and Banca Sella, launch a project for a common euro-denominated stablecoin (see here a previous article by BeBeez), moving from nine banks when the project was announced last September (see here a previous article by BeBeez), the topic of “stable-value” digital currency shifts from the crypto world to mainstream finance. But what truly makes a stablecoin credible and solid? And what are the limits of the current model?
Guido Rocco, COO of RIV Technologies, answers this question during the second episode of the Digital Finance Files series created by BeBeez Live in collaboration with RIV Capital. Rocco, from Dubai, recounts the evolution of RIVCoin: a token that breaks the mold, has no fixed value, but is backed by concrete and diversified reserves. A project that aims to combine solidity and performance, and offers a new perspective on how to build trust in the era of decentralized finance.
Question: Let’s start with current events. What are stablecoins, really, and why are they so hotly debated today, even in Europe?
Answer: A stablecoin is a token that has a stable value, or rather, that aims to have a stable value. There are different types. There are algorithmic stablecoins, whose value is kept stable through an algorithm; crypto-collateralized stablecoins, where the collateral is other cryptocurrencies; and finally asset-backed stablecoins, which are the more well-known ones like USDT (Tether) or USDC, where the collateral is real assets. This is the category attracting the most attention today and is also leading major European banks to take an interest. The underlying concept is to translate the stability of traditional fiat currencies into the crypto world. This is why it is a sub-asset class within the broader digital asset landscape.
Q. How important is the reserve in building trust in a stablecoin?
A. It is fundamental. Unlike a fiat currency, where a central bank guarantees its value, in the crypto world, the trust mechanism is built on reserves. When we talk about a “peg,” we mean the mechanism that anchors the value of the stablecoin to a reference value, typically one euro or one dollar. If the token’s price deviates from this value, there must be a mechanism, and reserves are the main one, to bring it back to parity. This is why it’s crucial that reserves are well-structured and, above all, decorrelated from the crypto world: if the collateral is itself cryptocurrency, in the event of a market shock, the entire system can collapse. A stable, transparent, and verifiable reserve is what builds trust in the token.
Q. Let’s move on to your project. How is RIVCoin inspired by the stablecoin model, even though it isn’t fully one?
A. RIVCoin is not a stablecoin in the sense that it doesn’t have a pegged or fixed value. It’s a token that fluctuates based on supply and demand, but is backed by reserves, just like asset-backed stablecoins. It therefore inherited the idea of intrinsic value, which is determined by the value of the underlying reserves. The price can also fall below the intrinsic value, but in that case the market itself intervenes through arbitrage mechanisms: if I buy an asset at a discount to its real value, I’m making a potentially profitable investment.
Q. Can you explain in more detail what the reserve backing RIVCoin is made of?
A. Ours is a hybrid reserve, combining traditional and decentralized finance. One portion is invested in high-yield financial instruments, through a strategy developed by RIV Capital and tested for over fifteen years. The other portion is allocated to the crypto world, with long exposure to Bitcoin and other digital assets, as well as active trading strategies. This allows us to maintain a balance between stability and yield, while also building a guarantee mechanism that is not entirely exposed to the volatility of the crypto market.
Q. Who is RIVCoin aimed at? Only retail investors or also institutional investors?
A. RIVCoin was created with the idea of offering access to opportunities traditionally reserved for professional operators, including for the retail public. But its characteristics can also attract institutional investors. Unlike traditional stablecoins, RIVCoin generates value in two ways: first, through usage and therefore the supply-demand dynamics of the token; and second, through the performance of its reserves, which are actively managed with more sophisticated strategies than those typically associated with stablecoins. Furthermore, the DAO issuing the token does not inflate it arbitrarily, as happens with other projects: issuance is organic and dependent on the strength of the reserves. This makes the asset more sustainable over time.
Q. The issue of volatility remains. How does RIVCoin handle the typical cryptocurrency risks?
A. RIVCoin is a cryptocurrency, so it fully participates in market volatility. However, unlike purely speculative tokens, reserves act as a buffer, especially in bear markets. We expect the token to follow typical crypto market cycles, but the presence of underlying assets should limit its decline beyond its intrinsic value. Similar models have shown in the past that this approach works. That’s why we decided to adopt it.
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