The post Bolivia Considers Recognizing USDT for Payments Amid Dollar Shortage appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
Bolivia is evaluating integrating Tether’s USDt into its national payments system, a move that could mark one of Latin America’s most significant stablecoin adoption initiatives as the country grapples with a persistent shortage of US dollars. Economy and Public Finance Minister Jose Gabriel Espinoza told a press conference on Monday that the government is assessing a regulatory framework that would allow USDT to circulate “as just another currency,” alongside the boliviano and the US dollar. According to the Spanish news outlet CriptoNoticias, the framework is still under review and, if adopted, would recognize USDT for everyday transactions, including payments, savings and trade, without relying exclusively on cash or the traditional banking system. Espinoza said any rollout would require a robust regulatory framework and strong anti-money laundering safeguards because Bolivia remains on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) gray list, which identifies jurisdictions under increased monitoring for deficiencies in preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. Source: EL DEBER The proposal is part of Bolivia’s broader embrace of digital assets following the lifting of its longstanding ban on cryptocurrencies in 2024. Since taking office in late 2025, President Rodrigo Paz Pereira’s administration has pledged to integrate digital assets into the formal financial system, paving the way for banks to offer crypto-related products and services, including stablecoin-based accounts. USDT is the world’s largest stablecoin, with a market capitalization exceeding $184 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. Related: USDT wins payments, USDC wins DeFi as stablecoins diverge: Dune Dollar shortage fuels stablecoin push Bolivia’s stablecoin initiative comes as the country grapples with a prolonged shortage of US dollars, which are widely used alongside the national currency, the boliviano. As Reuters reported, Bolivia maintained an official exchange rate of 6.86 bolivianos per US dollar for purchases and 6.96 for sales from 2011 until earlier this year, when…
