Search
Latam Insights Encore: Bukele Pushes Controversial Substitution of National Products Policy To Fight Inflation, Offers Free Coffee on Top
22.7.2024
Welcome To Latam Insights Encore, a deep view of Latin America’s most relevant economic and cryptocurrency-based news last week. In this edition, we discuss the import duties exemption measure President Nayib Bukele pushed for and passed in Congress and its possible effects on El Salvador....
Cryptocurrency Imports in Brazil Break Records and Begin to Affect Trade Balances
8.5.2024
Purchases from foreign cryptocurrency exchanges, considered imports, have broken records in Brazil, putting some weight into the nation’s trade balance. During the last 12 months, cryptocurrency purchases reached $14.84 billion, after reaching $12.3 billion last year. Likewise, crypto imports...
IEA Report: Oil Prices on the Brink of Soaring as Supply Narrows and Demand Shatters Records
12.8.2023
The stage is set for a potentially striking upswing in global oil prices, as supply constricts and demand ascends to unprecedented levels. With oil reserves dwindling at a breakneck pace, OPEC’s spare capacity restrained, and powerhouse consumers like China and India snapping up record...
Central Bank of Argentina Reduces Dollar and Yuan Disbursement to Importers
21.7.2023
Importers are accusing the Central Bank of Argentina of stalling on the delivery of dollar-based payments under the pretext of high freight costs. According to importers, the Argentine government considers freight costs exceeding 15% of the value of the merchandise imported as an inconsistency....
Yuan Usage Soars in Argentina: Over 500 Companies Request to Pay for Imports in Chinese Currency, Report
27.6.2023
Over 500 companies in Argentina have reportedly requested to pay for imports using Chinese yuan as the U.S. dollar shortage worsens. “The central bank doesn’t have dollars so it needs the emergency aid China is offering,” a trade economist in Buenos Aires explained. Chinese Yuan Usage Hits Record...
Argentina Settled Almost 20% of Its Imports in April and May Using the Chinese Yuan
20.6.2023
The government of Argentina has noted that 19% of all imports authorized in the national system were settled using the Chinese yuan in April and May. $2.72 billion in Chinese yuan were approved to complete these payments, taking advantage of the Chinese swap line to preserve the dollar reserves...
Latam Insights — Volcano Energy Bitcoin Mining Project Rises in El Salvador, Venezuelan Miners Leaving Amidst Crypto Corruption Probe
12.6.2023
Welcome to Latam Insights, a compendium of Latin America’s most relevant crypto and economic news during the last week. In this issue, Volcano Energy rises in El Salvador, Venezuelan bitcoin miners flee amidst nationwide mining ban, and Argentina deepens usage of the Chinese yuan to...
Bangladesh and India to Trade in National Currencies Due to US Dollar Liquidity Issues
16.5.2023
Bangladesh and India have decided to conduct trade settlements in their own currencies, bypassing the dominance of the U.S. dollar. According to sources from the Bangladesh Bank, the decision was made due to the issues of liquidity in foreign currency that Bangladesh faces, which are disrupting...
Iran Sets Up Platform to Facilitate Crypto Payments for Imports
3.5.2023
Authorities in Iran are taking steps to make crypto payments easier for companies importing goods in the sanctioned country. A dedicated platform has been established to allow local businesses to transfer cryptocurrency for the purpose of cross-border settlements. Iran to Use Cryptocurrencies...
Argentina to Settle Chinese Imports in Yuan to Safeguard Dwindling Dollar Reserves
29.4.2023
The economy minister of Argentina, Sergio Massa, announced that starting this month, payments for imports coming from China will be settled using the Chinese yuan. The agreement, which will allow the country to safeguard its dwindling dollar reserves, involves the disbursement of more than...
Russia Negotiating Free Trade Deal With India to Facilitate Imports in the Face of Sanctions
18.4.2023
Russia is in the process of negotiating a free trade deal with India in order to substitute part of the products and investments that were banned by sanctions enacted after the Ukrainian conflict erupted. Russia is now the largest oil supplier of India, with the country taking advantage of...
Daily Raids on Crypto Farms as Abkhazia Intensifies Mining Crackdown
12.2.2023
Authorities in Abkhazia are stepping up efforts to clamp down on cryptocurrency mining amid electricity shortages in the winter months. The government of the breakaway Georgian region announced it’s also taking measures to prevent imports of mining equipment. Abkhazia Creates Headquarters to Combat...
Moldova Bans Cryptocurrency Mining Amid Energy Crisis Caused by War in Ukraine
28.10.2022
The government of Moldova has decided to suspend crypto mining activities in the country as it’s facing a major energy crisis. The move is part of emergency measures to reduce power consumption with energy supplies dwindling due to the escalating conflict in neighboring Ukraine. Authorities...
Report: Turkey’s September Gold Imports up by 1,700% as Individuals Swap Falling Lira With the Precious Metal
15.10.2022
Turkey’s gold imports of just over 39,000 kilograms in September 2022 are more than 16 times the quantity that was brought into the country in September 2021. The surge in Turkey’s gold imports is reportedly being spurred by the rise in demand for the precious metal by individuals...
EU Bans Crypto Services for Russians in New Sanctions Over Ukraine Escalation
7.10.2022
An array of crypto-related services have been targeted in the latest round of sanctions on Russia approved by the EU. The measures are part of an expected tightening of the economic and financial restrictions in response to Moscow’s decision to annex Ukrainian territories. EU Council Adopts...
Kenyan Central Bank Rejects Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Claims Country Lacks Forex to Import Oil
4.10.2022
The Central Bank of Kenya appeared to rebuke the country’s new deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, after it rejected the latter’s claims the East African nation lacks enough foreign exchange to import oil. According to the bank, all the foreign exchange used in private transactions...
While the US Dollar Tramples the Euro, Pound and Yen, Russia’s Ruble Skyrockets Against the Greenback
25.9.2022
While the U.S. dollar has soared in value against a basket of worldwide fiat currencies, Russia’s ruble climbed 4.5% against the greenback this week. During the first week of September, Russia told the press China would pay for natural gas with rubles and yuan. Moreover, Switzerland’s...
Iran Starts Licensing Crypto Miners Under New Regulatory Framework
5.9.2022
The government of Iran has reportedly started issuing licenses to crypto miners under the new “comprehensive and detailed” regulatory framework approved last week. The authorities previously issued licenses to a number of crypto mining operations but halted the process due to power...
Iranian Government Approves ‘Comprehensive and Detailed’ Crypto Regulations
1.9.2022
The government of Iran has finalized a set of cryptocurrency regulations. A “comprehensive and detailed” law ratified by the administration provides a regulatory framework for cryptocurrency, including their authorized usage and crypto mining, a government official reportedly said....
Russian PM takes cue from Iran’s crypto payment permit for imports
30.8.2022
The adoption of digital assets provides a good opportunity to ensure uninterrupted payments for imports and exports, Russia's prime minister said