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    How stablecoins change over time

    A stablecoin can launch, expand to new chains, migrate, rebrand, stop minting, enter a wind-down, fail, or continue trading after its original purpose has ended.

    Why lifecycle terms matter

    Stablecoin histories are rarely a simple move from active to failed. Some products remain available with limits. Some stop minting while redemptions continue. Others move to a new token, brand, contract, or protocol design. A token may also keep trading after the original stablecoin has failed.

    Key terms
    LaunchThe first public release or availability of a stablecoin or major new version.
    MigrationA move to a new token, contract, blockchain, issuer structure, or protocol design.
    RebrandA name or brand change that may or may not include a technical migration.
    Wind-downA planned process to end issuance, redemption, conversion, exchange support, or general availability.
    DiscontinuedIssuance or support has ended, without necessarily involving a market collapse.
    FailureThe stablecoin no longer functions as intended and does not recover.
    Post-collapse tradingThe token still trades after failure, but the original peg or redemption function has not returned.
    Successor or parallel assetA related token that replaces, extends, or coexists with an earlier stablecoin.
    Examples
    USTThe May 2022 collapse supports the failed status. Later USTC trading is recorded separately from the original stablecoin function.
    BUSDNew issuance stopped and the product entered a wind-down. That is a discontinuation, not a collapse.
    DAI and USDSThe relationship between the earlier asset, newer product, and Sky ecosystem requires a clear timeline rather than one combined label.
    LUSD and BOLDLiquity V1 and V2 involve related but distinct stablecoins and protocol designs.

    UST / TerraUSD

    Collapse, failed status, and post-collapse trading.

    BUSD

    Issuer wind-down and discontinued status.

    DAI

    Protocol transition and relationship to newer Sky products.