Digital currencies are increasingly becoming part of everyday life in Venezuela as people seek ways to protect their income from the rapid decline of the bolívar and stringent financial restrictions.
Shops of all sizes, from corner stores to national retail chains, now accept payments in crypto using services like Airtm or Binance. Some companies have taken it a step further, using stablecoins to cover employee salaries, while several universities have established programs that teach students about blockchain and digital assets.
Venezuela ranked 13th worldwide for cryptocurrency adoption in the 2024 Chainalysis Global Cryptocurrency Adoption Index, with usage growing 110% compared to 2023.
The decline of the national currency is the main reason Venezuelans are embracing alternatives. Since October, when the government stopped propping up the bolívar, its value has plunged by over 70%. The country’s Observatory of Finance (OVF) reported inflation at 229% in May, leaving many households struggling.
“Citizens turned to crypto because they had no choice,” explained Aarón Olmos, an economist. He pointed to low salaries, difficulties accessing foreign currency, and barriers to opening bank accounts as key factors pushing adoption.
Still, using crypto is not always easy. U.S. sanctions on the country’s financial system have pushed Binance to limit services involving sanctioned individuals and banks. Internet connectivity problems also complicate everyday use. Despite this, analysts say the community supporting digital assets in the country has proven remarkably durable.
The government’s position on crypto is complicated. In 2018, Venezuela introduced a state-backed token, the petro, but the initiative was abandoned in 2024. In 2023, the country’s main crypto regulatory body was shut down after corruption scandals tied to oil transactions.
At the same time, remittances in crypto are becoming a financial lifeline. According to Cointelegraph, Venezuelans received $5.4 billion in remittances in 2023, with approximately $461 million—roughly 9%—being through digital assets. Families often prefer crypto over traditional providers such as Western Union because crypto transfers avoid currency shortages, high fees, and delays.
Amid the financial crisis, military and political tensions continue to mount. The country, through its defense minister, recently confirmed the deployment of naval drones and forces along the Caribbean coast following Washington’s dispatch of three warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and a missile cruiser to the region.
These moves follow U.S. accusations that President Nicolás Maduro and other Venezuelan leaders are tied to drug cartels. Rewards for their capture have doubled, with $50 million offered for Maduro and $25 million for the interior minister.
The crypto industry, including entities like BitFuFu Inc. (NASDAQ: FUFU), will be glad that digital assets are helping the people of Venezuela to withstand some of the economic challenges that they face as their national currency crumbles.
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