According to Argentinian newspaper La Nacion, the Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA) is analyzing lifting the cryptocurrency ban on banks and allowing banks to provide digital asset-related services to account holders.
Citing sources close to the BCRA, La Nacion reported that the new rules for banks could be ready as early as April 2026.
The central bank enacted a law banning banks from using cryptocurrencies to conduct or facilitate business for customers, but after Javier Milei took over as governor in 2023, financial authorities have shifted to a more crypto-friendly stance.
The measure is expected to further boost adoption in Argentina, a global leader in grassroots cryptocurrency adoption according to Chainalysys, driven largely by an economic crisis fueled by triple-digit inflation, strict capital controls and a fundamental distrust of the local peso. Chainaanalysis pointed out that Argentina has 10 million active crypto wallet users, ranking 15th.
Between July 2023 and June 2024, the country’s on-chain transaction volume was estimated to reach $91 billion, making it the most active cryptocurrency market in Latin America. The report adds that more than 60% of activity involves stablecoins such as USDT, which are used by Argentines as an important mechanism to dollarize their savings and protect their purchasing power against currency devaluation.
In Latin America, only Brazil has the clearest and most comprehensive laws allowing and regulating commercial banks to provide crypto services. Panama is more accommodative but lacks a central bank-driven framework. Although El Salvador became the first country in the world to make Bitcoin legal tender nationwide in 2021, it was only recently (August 2025) that it introduced a new banking law requiring private banks to exclusively provide digital asset services to high-net-worth investors.
Update (December 8, 15:35 UTC): Remove the “conservative” description of La Nacion.