Is Latin America Ready for the Crypto Economy?

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Latin America (LATAM) is one of the regions where crypto adoption has peaked significantly in recent years. According to the Chainalysis 2023 global adoption report, three of the major economies featured among the top 20 countries in crypto adoption: Brazil (9), Argentina (15), and Mexico (16).

The rising crypto adoption trends by LATAM countries are not surprising given some of the challenges countries based in this region have encountered over the past decade, including inflation, currency devaluation, and exorbitant remittance fees. For example, in Argentina, inflation peaked as high as 200% in 2023, triggering the government to announce a 50% devaluation of the Peso in December.

However, while it is evident that cryptocurrencies could help alleviate some of these economic shortfalls, there is still a missing piece: a collaborative initiative between regulatory-supportive blockchain ecosystems like Patex and the necessary authorities, including central banks, who are best suited to drive mass adoption through crypto-compatible solutions such as Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

In terms of numbers, there is a clear demand for the digital asset economy in LATAM countries. A 2021 study by Instituto Locomotiva revealed that there were over 34 million unbanked adults in Brazil. This figure can be significantly reduced if more Brazilians were to be exposed to less restrictive financial solutions such as Decentralized Finance (DeFi).

Meanwhile, in Mexico, where remittances in 2022 eclipsed $61 billion, more and more people are also opting to leverage cryptocurrencies to send money home. Data from Statista shows that over 7 million Mexicans held or traded cryptocurrencies during the same year, a good chunk of which could have comprised remittances.

Other metrics which show LATAM is ready for the crypto economy include, 

Venezuela Food Outlets Accepting Bitcoin

Since Venezuela’s petroleum industry was sanctioned in 2017, the country’s economy has been in shambles, with the bolivar entering a free fall regime. However, what’s particularly noteworthy is that both locals and international outlets, including Pizza Hut and Burger King, all moved to accept BTC for payments as early as 2020.

El Salvador Approval of Bitcoin as Legal Tender 

This LATAM country shocked many macroeconomists when it adopted Bitcoin as legal tender. In fact, at some point, the IMF warned El Salvador of the risks associated with holding Bitcoin. Nonetheless, the country is yet to exit its BTC position and currently holds 2,762 BTC at an average entry price of $42,433. In other words, this portfolio is in massive profits given that BTC is currently trading above $70,000.

The Missing Piece in LATAM Crypto Adoption 

As highlighted in the previous section, it is very obvious that there is a growing demand for crypto assets in the LATAM region. However, when it comes to the fundamental support structures such as regulatory frameworks and easily digestible crypto knowledge, the region is still lagging.

So far, the country which has made significant progress is Brazil, having implemented a crypto asset regulation last year. In addition, the central bank of Brazil is also actively working on a CBDC project, with the Digital Real Initiative (DREX) pilot expected to launch later in May 2024. Argentina’s central bank, on the other hand, announced last year that it was accelerating its efforts to propose legislation that will govern the digital peso.

While these efforts are worth applauding, there is definitely more that can be done by crypto market stakeholders to assist regulators in CBDC development and policy formulation. Instead of viewing the regulators and traditional institutions as a threat, crypto innovators in LATAM should strive to contribute towards adoption by tapping into the influence and experience of these two groups, respectively. 

Bridging the Gap 

As of writing, there are some blockchain ecosystems like Patex which are already taking up the mantle to bridge the gap between crypto innovators, users, and regulators.

Designed as a comprehensive blockchain ecosystem, Patex infrastructure model embodies the missing piece in LATAM crypto adoption. This Web3 ecosystem features a layer 2 blockchain network and centralized crypto exchange ‘C-PATEX’ which stakeholders can use to issue, manage, and regulate CBDCs. The Patex Campus is also a rich source of knowledge for LATAM individuals looking to learn about Web3.

Just recently, Patex’s native token $PATEX, which powers the platform’s blockchain ecosystem, was listed on several major exchanges, including Gate.io, MEXC, KuCoin, Uniswap, and PancakeSwap. Although relatively nascent, Patex’s comprehensive blockchain ecosystem model is one of the effective ways Web3-powered solutions could spur crypto adoption in LATAM countries by supporting and informing the development of compliant frameworks.

Another approach to facilitate crypto adoption besides comprehensive Web3 ecosystems is by central banks partnering with traditional banks to build foolproof CBDC models. For instance, during the launch of its CBDC project, the central bank of Brazil selected 14 institutions from a pool of 36 to participate in the pilot. Some of the notable names that were selected include Visa and Microsoft. 

Conclusion 

Crypto adoption in LATAM is a necessary rather than an optional endeavor. The numbers already show a region that is ready to adopt the crypto economy; however, with regulatory hurdles still in place, it might take a little longer before crypto solutions rival existing financial products. The fastest way to get here is for crypto stakeholders to create ecosystems that aim to inform, support policy, CBDC development, and not just innovative products which might end up not having the blessings of the proper bodies.

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