Bolivia studies possible USDT role in national payment system, minister says

Technical review under way

Espinoza said authorities are studying a model in which USDT could circulate in Bolivia as an additional currency alongside the boliviano and the US dollar. His remarks indicate that the government is not yet announcing a rollout, but rather evaluating whether such an integration is technically possible within the country’s payment infrastructure.

The minister described the work as an ongoing review of how USDT might fit into the Bolivian system. The idea, as outlined by officials, is not to replace existing currencies but to consider whether the stablecoin could operate in parallel with them.

Regulation remains the main hurdle

Espinoza said Bolivia has so far only reversed its previous ban on the use of crypto assets. He noted that the country still lacks a comprehensive set of rules governing the sector, which he presented as a necessary condition before any wider use of USDT could be considered.

He also tied that requirement to Bolivia’s status on the Financial Action Task Force grey list. According to the minister, any eventual crypto framework would need to meet anti-money laundering standards and ensure that digital assets are not used to hide illegal activity. In that sense, the current discussion is not only about payment technology, but also about the legal and compliance structure needed to support it.

Minister criticizes earlier reliance on USDT

Espinoza criticized the previous government’s approach to USDT, saying it had turned to the stablecoin as an alternative to the US dollar during a period of economic difficulty. He argued that the move was driven largely by desperation and said it ultimately destabilized the market.

Those comments suggest the current administration is trying to draw a distinction between emergency use of crypto-linked instruments and a regulated, formally designed payment policy. Even so, the minister did not indicate any timeline for a possible launch, emphasizing instead the need for rules first.

Broader crypto activity in Bolivia

Bolivia has already taken some steps toward deeper engagement with the crypto sector. In July 2025, the country announced the start of large-scale cooperation with El Salvador in the cryptocurrency industry and formalized that effort through a memorandum of understanding.

Separately, Banco Bisa in 2024 introduced payments using the USDT stablecoin. That earlier rollout showed that USDT had already begun to appear in parts of Bolivia’s financial landscape, even as national-level rules remained incomplete.

The latest comments from Espinoza place the government’s position between openness and caution: Bolivia is willing to explore a formal role for USDT in payments, but officials say any such move must wait until a broader regulatory framework is established and aligned with anti-money laundering requirements.