Venezuela Crypto Adoption at Peak: Stablecoins Run Shops and Salaries

The increasing adoption rate of crypto is undeniable, turning it into a $4 trillion industry, driven by the U.S., Venezuela, and many other nations. Notably, today, crypto has become a survival tool for the citizens of Venezuela battling the economic crash.

Venezuela Crypto Adoption Booms With Stablecoins as a Survival Tool

Venezuela, a country in South America, is in a state of severe collapse, crashing its native currencies’ valuation by 70%. A decade of mismanagement and poor monetary policies has resulted in hyperinflation and currency devaluation, but the same has pushed the citizens of Venezuela to crypto adoption.

Last year alone, it ranked 13th globally in terms of adoption after a 110% surge according to the Chainalysis Crypto Adoption Index.

Now, in 2025, cryptocurrency has turned into a core part of this country’s economy, as citizens actively use crypto to battle the collapse of the bolívar and the government’s control.

Even in this, stablecoins like Tether (USDT) priced ∼$1 (pegged to the U.S. dollar) have become a medium of daily payment activities.

Stablecoins For Daily Use

Crypto adoption in Venezuela is visible on every street, from small family shops to even big retail businesses. Everyone in the country is now actively accepting crypto payments with popular modes of transactions like Binance and Airtm.

Victor Sousa, a shopper, told the media that they actively use USDT for shopping and plan to put their savings in crypto, considering the conditions of the paper money. Cointelegraph reports also suggest that many companies/ businesses are paying their employees with stablecoins like Tether.

Another prominent form of adoption is that Venezuelan universities offer crypto courses. Economist Aarón Olmos explains that people are choosing crypto as Venezuela faces high inflation, low wages, and difficulty opening bank accounts. For them, crypto isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity to survive.

While the Venezuelan government has also shown mixed signals on crypto, citizens have acted on their own. Back in 2018, the country launched its own crypto, but that failed by 2023. There was also a discussion on Venezuela setting a Bitcoin Reserve, but no updates have been reported since then.

Additional inconsistencies pushed people to rely on decentralized options, such as cryptocurrency.