With the next bear market cycle approaching, it makes sense to start building a reserve of stablecoins now. The blockchain ecosystem presents an interesting alternative—a truly decentralized stablecoin paired with a functioning DeFi infrastructure offers genuine self-custody options without the burden of excessive transaction fees.

What's particularly compelling here is the efficiency at the transaction level. Moving value on-chain for under a dollar becomes feasible, which opens doors for micro-transactions and genuine peer-to-peer value transfer. This is where traditional financial systems simply can't compete.

For those positioning themselves ahead of market cycles, accumulating a meaningful position—say around $1000 worth of stablecoins—through this ecosystem could provide both flexibility and cost efficiency when opportunities emerge during downturns. The combination of low friction, self-custody control, and functional DeFi primitives creates a compelling thesis for capital preservation in volatile markets.