Cutting-edge crypto coins tout stability. Critics call them dangerous.

A new generation of cryptocurrencies is trying to replicate the stability of the dollar. But critics say they’re a disaster waiting to happen.

So-called “algorithmic stablecoins” have surged in popularity over the past few months, sparking debate over whether they are good for the crypto industry. They’re the fancy siblings of conventional stablecoins — digital currencies that try to maintain a one-to-one relationship with a traditional currency, usually the dollar.