Latin America is carving a unique narrative in the global cryptocurrency landscape, with Venezuela and Argentina standing out due to their distinct socio-economic and political contexts. According to a report by Chainalysis, Latin America ranks seventh in the global crypto economy hierarchy, just ahead of Sub-Saharan Africa. The region’s preference for centralized exchanges (CEXs) over decentralized exchanges (DEXs) is notable, contrasting with global trends. However, the core attraction lies in how cryptocurrency is morphing into a tool against economic adversities in Argentina and a shield against authoritarianism in Venezuela.
Argentina: Crypto as Economic Safeguard
Argentina’s long-standing economic turmoil, accentuated by a 51.6% devaluation of the Argentine peso up till July 2023, has spurred crypto adoption as a defensive mechanism. In this period, the nation led Latin America in raw transaction volume, with an estimated…