Bolivia Is Considering USDT in the Country’s Payment System

Bolivia is considering integrating USDT into the national payment system, and Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza said outright that the stablecoin could be put into circulation on par with the US dollar and the boliviano. This matters for traders, USDT holders, and anyone following settlements in Latin America. The decision has not yet been made, but the idea itself already shows where the country is heading.

Espinoza explained that the government is currently technically assessing how exactly USDT could work in the payment system. At the same time, the authorities are preparing rules for cryptoassets in line with FATF requirements, because Bolivia is on the “grey list.” The minister also reminded that the previous ban on the use of cryptoassets has already been lifted, but a full regulatory framework is still lacking.

Why is Bolivia even looking at USDT?

The reason is simple: the dollar has become a scarce resource in the country, while demand for alternative settlement methods has grown. According to Banco Central de Bolivia, on July 13, 2026 the official exchange rate was 10.40 BOB per $1, while in June a new level had already appeared at 9.73 BOB on June 29. On the parallel market that same day, Red Uno showed 10.52 BOB for buying and 10.46 BOB for selling.

These figures clearly explain why the government does not want to simply ignore USDT. When the official rate, the parallel market, and real demand diverge, people look for a convenient tool to preserve value and make transfers. That is why the stablecoin in Bolivia no longer looks exotic. And there is another important point here: when a currency trades with such a gap, businesses need a simple way to quickly exchange digital assets for local money, for example sell USDT TRC20 for hryvnia to a card.

What exactly is the government planning, and where are the risks?

The minister is not talking about a simple “allow everything,” but about technical integration with rules. USDT could be made another currency alongside the US dollar and the boliviano, but only after clear regulation is created. Without that, such a scheme would quickly turn into a convenient channel for questionable transactions.

“We are currently working on this issue and technically assessing the possibility of integrating USDT into the Bolivian payment system so that it can circulate as another currency,” Espinoza said.

He also separately criticized the approach of the previous government, which, according to him, used USDT as a substitute for the dollar because of economic hardship. And here is an important detail: if the state does not put rules in place before launch, it risks repeating the old mistake, only in digital form. So the issue is not only technology, but also control.

• USDT could be integrated into the national payment system.

• The stablecoin is being considered as another currency alongside $1 and the boliviano.

• Bolivia is working on rules in line with FATF requirements.

• The country has already lifted the previous ban on cryptoassets.

• The parallel dollar market has nearly matched the official exchange rate.

Market reaction: the numbers are already speaking for themselves

The Bolivian virtual asset market has already shown that demand for such instruments is not theoretical. According to the BCB, over 12 months after Resolution No. 082/2024, the volume of virtual asset transactions reached $430 million, and in H1 2025 it was $294 million versus $46.5 million in H1 2024. That is growth of 630%.

There is also a broader backdrop. In its 2025 report, the IMF noted that Bolivia’s gross international reserves at the end of 2024 were about $2.0 billion, or 2.1 months of imports, and linked the emergence of the parallel market to the private sector’s limited access to foreign currency. In other words, the problem is not a crypto trend, but a plain shortage of dollars.

One more detail: Bolivia has already tried using crypto markets for foreign-currency payments by state entities. The IMF’s 2025 report mentioned that the 2025 budget provided for such mechanisms for purchases in foreign currency, and separate regulation at the time was issued only for YPFB. This shows that the current debate did not appear out of nowhere.

What does this mean for investors?

For USDT holders, this is a signal that the stablecoin is gradually moving from a purely trading tool into payment infrastructure. If Bolivia really formalizes it as part of the system, demand for a convenient digital dollar could rise not only among private users, but also among businesses that work with imports and transfers.

But there is another side. Regulation under FATF means stricter requirements for source of funds, reporting, and checks. And that makes sense: when a country with $2.0 billion in reserves and an active parallel market opens the door to a stablecoin, the authorities will definitely not want to lose control over the flows.

For Ukrainian readers, there is a practical takeaway here. Bolivia shows how countries under currency pressure gradually bring stablecoins into official payments, but do so not with a single decree, but through rules and limits. If you need to quickly sell USDT TRC20 for hryvnia, it is important to follow such news, because it often moves demand for stablecoins in regions with a shortage of foreign currency.

Frequently asked questions

Has USDT already been allowed in Bolivia’s payment system?

No, the government is only studying that possibility for now. The Economy Minister said a technical assessment is underway, and the country still lacks a full regulatory framework.

Why is Bolivia even considering a stablecoin?

Because the country is under pressure in the currency market and there is demand for alternative settlement methods. Against the backdrop of an official rate of 10.40 BOB per $1 and a parallel market around 10.46-10.52 BOB per $1, USDT looks to many like a convenient digital dollar.

What does being on the FATF “grey list” mean for such a decision?

It means Bolivia needs to build very careful rules against money laundering and concealing illegal activity. Without that, integrating USDT could create more problems than benefits.

For now, Bolivia is only testing the idea, but the fact that such talks are happening is already important. When a state with an exchange rate of 10.40 BOB per $1, $430 million in virtual asset turnover, and FATF pressure talks about USDT as another currency, it should be read as a signal of a shift in the approach to money, not just another crypto story. For those working with stablecoins, this topic is definitely not going away.

This material is not financial advice. Cryptocurrency trading involves significant risks. Part of this text was prepared with the help of artificial intelligence based on public sources and reviewed by our editorial team.