Latam Insights Encore: The Venezuelan Perfect Storm Highlights Bitcoin’s Key Use Case

Welcome to Latam Insights Encore, a deep dive into Latin America’s most relevant economic and cryptocurrency-based news from last week. In this edition, we discuss how bitcoin is being leveraged by both the opposition and the government in Venezuela, highlighting one of its most significant traits: uncensorability. Latam Insights Encore: Venezuelan Situation Shows Bitcoin’s Utility … Read more

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Proposes Retaking the ‘Crypto Path’

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro discussed the possible future of the national cryptocurrency system following the so-called PDVSA-Crypto scheme, which resulted in the loss of $20 billion in unaccounted oil sales paid in crypto. Maduro stated that the country needed to retake the crypto path but gave no indications regarding the revival of the national cryptocurrency … Read more

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Announces 10-Day Block of X; Signal Also Affected

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that he signed a document authorizing Conatel, the telecom regulator, to block access to the X social network for 10 days. This requires its owner, Elon Musk, to present several documents before allowing it to operate again in the country. Paradoxically, using X, Maduro called for an end to “plans … Read more

Venezuela Likely to Keep Using Crypto to Bypass New Set of US Sanctions

According to Venezuelan dissidents and cryptocurrency analysts, the government of Venezuela is likely to keep using crypto to bypass the returning sanctions on oil and gold activities. Even when Nicolas Maduro’s administration seems to have been affected by corruption cases involving crypto, watchers report that these tools will keep diverting funds from regular channels. Venezuelan … Read more

Head of Venezuelan Crypto Watchdog Sunacrip Arrested on Alleged Corruption Charges; Institution to Face Restructuring

Joselit Ramirez, head of the Venezuelan cryptocurrency authority Sunacrip, was arrested on March 18, according to reports from local media. Ramirez, who led the institution from its creation in 2018, was arrested for being allegedly involved in corruption schemes, including the embezzlement of $3 billion related to unregistered oil sales. Sunacrip Boss Joselit Ramirez Arrested … Read more

Brazil and Argentina to Start Working on Creation of Latam Common Currency

Brazil and Argentina are looking to begin work on the issuance of a common currency. Sergio Massa, minister of the economy of Argentina, also stated that the two countries will be inviting other nations in the area to join this economic integration project in the future. Brazil and Argentina to Spearhead Common Currency Issuance Project … Read more

Disputed Venezuelan Gold Worth $1.8B in Bank of England Vaults Remains Uncertain After Dissolution of Interim Government

The status of the Venezuelan gold currently being held by the Bank of England might fall into regulatory limbo after the dissolution of the interim government of Juan Guaido. The 31 tons of gold have been the subject of dispute between the current president Nicolas Maduro and Juan Guaido since 2019, when Guaido integrated a … Read more

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Signals Support for Single Currency in Latam, Calls for Crypto Inclusion

Nicolas Maduro, president of Venezuela, has expressed his support for the adoption of a new common currency for Latam in the latest meeting of the Workgroup of the Sao Paolo Forum. Maduro stated that this would be an important step for the construction of a common economic space, that would also include cryptocurrency as an … Read more

Relaunch of USAN — the Union of South American Nations — in Latam Profiles New Monetary Integration

A proposal for relaunching the currently defunct USAN, the Union of South American Nations, profiles a future monetary integration amongst the countries of the organization. The proposal, made by several former presidents of countries in Latam, reinforces the need for regional integration to overcome common problems in the area, including poverty. USAN Relaunch Proposal Includes … Read more