I hope you are having a great Friday. Thanks again for reading Barracuda.
In case you missed it, earlier this week I wrote about how:
Here are the most important updates on bitcoin, blockchain and digital infrastructure policy in Latin America from this week:
The Brazilian cryptocurrency exchange, Mercado Bitcoin, could start operating in Mexico in 2022. But is awaiting regulatory approval. In case Bitcoin Market moves to Mexico, it would probably compete with the crypto exchange Bitso.
The Mexican crypto exchange Bitso reached one million users in Brazil one year after its launch in the country. According to the firm, its transactions grew 66% in June.
El Salvador’s Finance Ministry signaled a moderate stance toward the IMF. Alejandro Zelaya says he believes in transitioning from a traditional financial system into a new one using new technologies - like Bitcoin.
The Intercept published a long form exposé of Nayib Bukele’s El Salvador. The story suggests that in spite of Bukele’s allocation to Bitcoin, ordinary people’s lives aren’t getting any better - they’re getting worse.
The Honduran city of Santa Lucia will begin to use bitcoin. It will be the fourth city in Central America to adopt the crypto currency
Honduras also has another new bitcoin ATM. It is the first one located in Marcala, La Paz, and the sixth one in the country in charge of the Honduran crypto company La Bitcoinera.
Panama positioned itself in the international spotlight by hosting the three-day Blockchain Summit LatAm 2022, an event where Bitcoin, crypto assets and blockchain were discussed.
Peru is part of the top 20 countries with the highest adoption and ownership of cryptocurrencies, along with Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, according to the UN.
Argentina’s Bitcoin evangelist set out policy proposals for dollarization. Javier Milei will run on a platform campaigning against policies that devalue the peso.
Argentine Maximiliano Hinz says that Latin Americans are increasingly adopting stablecoins. Hinz is the Latin America director for the crypto exchange Binance and used to run Huabi’s operations in Argentina.
Uruguay’s Central bank cracked down on the firm Send Money and affiliate Edward Palencia. Separately, lawmakers Carmen Sanguinetti and Juan Sartori are pushing for legislation that will regulate crypto there.
Spanish Bitbaseopened a shop for Bitcoin buying and selling in Paraguay’s capital, Asunción. Paraguay is primarily known for its Bitcoin mining.