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

Latam Insights: Venezuela to Leverage USDT for Sidestepping Sanctions, Chivo Wallet Disregards Hacking Allegations

Welcome to Latam Insights, a compendium of Latin America’s most relevant crypto and economic news during the last week. In this issue: Venezuelan oil company PDVSA could use USDT to sidestep U.S. sanctions, Chivo Wallet denies hacking allegations, and Nubank expands its crypto functionality in Brazil. Venezuela Might Use USDT for Sidestepping Sanctions Venezuela is … Read more

Venezuelan Probe Unveils Crypto Money Laundering Scheme Linked to Oil Sale Embezzlement; Kraken Involved

The Venezuelan Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, unveiled the second wave of detentions linked to a crypto money laundering scheme derived from unregistered oil sales paid in different currencies and crypto. The former president of the state-owned oil company PDVSA, Tareck El Aissami, the former Economy Minister Simon Alejandro Zerpa, and entrepreneur Samark Lopez were … Read more

National Exchanges Reportedly Pause Operations in Venezuela, as Attorney General Confirms Crypto Watchdog Sunacrip Involvement in Oil Sale Schemes

National cryptocurrency exchanges have paused their activities in Venezuela according to reports, as the anti-corruption probe on national crypto watchdog Sunacrip and unlawful oil sales continues in the country. Tarek William Saab, attorney general, confirmed the involvement of the institution in a parallel scheme that involved the sale of Venezuelan oil to third parties, mentioning … 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

Reports Indicate USDT Is Being Used in Venezuela to Facilitate Settlements and to Avoid Sanctions

Some companies in Venezuela are using the stablecoin tether as a way of sidestepping sanctions and settling payments with foreign customers and providers. Local reports indicate that, while the most popular use case for the stablecoin involves its purchase for devaluation shielding purposes, a handful of companies are also harnessing it in this way. Companies … Read more

Nicolas Maduro Tempts West With an Abundance of Oil and Gas, Venezuelan President Wants Sanctions Lifted

Amid the economic rumblings across the world and the energy crisis in Europe, Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has said his country is ready to step up and help with oil. Despite the fact that Venezuela has the largest supply of crude oil in the world, U.S. economic sanctions imposed in 2019 by the Trump administration … Read more

Venezuela Might Be Affected by Russian Banks’ SWIFT Suspension

Analysts from Venezuela have expressed their worries about the expulsion of a number of Russian banks from SWIFT, an international messaging system that allows the interconnection of banks. These measures could affect the finances not only of Venezuela, but also of other countries in the region, damaging their capability to move funds, which is highly … Read more

Pensioners of the National Oil Company Will Receive 2 Petros as a Gift in Venezuela

The pensioners of the state-owned oil company of Venezuela, PDVSA, have started receiving a Christmas bonus in petros (PTR), the first national cryptocurrency launched back in 2018. The petro, which is backed by Venezuelan oil and other resources, can be traded in local exchanges for these pensioners to access fiat currency, as the reach of … Read more

Venezuela to Have Two Units of Account – Petro and Petro-Pegged Bolivar

President Maduro’s Venezuela is preparing to effectively adopt next week two official units of account – the nation’s crypto, El Petro, and the new petro-pegged bolivar that will replace the inflated national fiat. New salary and pricing mechanisms will be implemented as well, the country’s leftist leader promised.   Also read: Malta Tops Exchange-Based Crypto … Read more