Argentina’s President, Javier Milei, has expressed his support for Bitcoin and called for a competitive market for currencies. He stated that Bitcoin would be allowed to participate in the open market alongside other established forms of transaction in Argentina. Milei has been advocating for cryptocurrencies since he took office in December 2023, believing that Bitcoin’s scarcity-driven monetary system empowers citizens. His endorsement has garnered support from figures like Gabor Gurbacs, a former VanEck executive, who sees Argentina and El Salvador’s economic approaches as valuable models for the world. Argentina is actively pursuing crypto adoption and is in talks with El Salvador to learn from their experience of using Bitcoin as legal tender. Similarly, Maya Parbhoe, a presidential candidate in Suriname, plans to adopt Bitcoin if elected. Despite Milei’s enthusiasm for Bitcoin, his administration has faced criticism for regulatory measures seen as restrictive by the crypto community. However, Argentina’s economic crisis has driven increased demand for Bitcoin as a safe-haven asset, as the value of the peso continues to decline. The Argentine currency has fallen by 75% against the US dollar in the past year, prompting Argentines to turn to Bitcoin to preserve their savings. This surge in demand has led to a rise in Bitcoin purchases on major crypto exchanges. Argentina is already a major hub for crypto adoption and is the third-largest market for peer-to-peer Bitcoin trading. The country’s low energy costs have also made it a significant center for Bitcoin mining in Latin America. Additionally, Argentina has made economic reforms to allow the use of cryptocurrencies for certain payments, such as rent payments. The combination of Argentina’s growing crypto industry and President Milei’s pro-crypto policies indicate a path towards further crypto adoption in the country.
