Bolivia is considering including USDt Tether in its national payments system, which could mark one of the most significant stablecoin adoption initiatives in Latin America as the country grapples with a persistent shortage of US dollars.
Minister of Economy and Public Finance, Jose Gabriel Espinoza he said On Monday, a press conference was held to announce that the government was assessing a regulatory framework that would allow USDT to be traded “as another currency” alongside the Boliviano and the US dollar.
According to Spanish news site CriptoNoticias, the framework is still under review and if adopted, it will happen recognize USDT for everyday transactions including payments, savings and trading, without relying solely on cash or the established banking system.
Espinoza said any implementation would require a tough regulatory framework and forceful anti-money laundering safeguards, as 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: DUTY
The proposal is part of Bolivia’s broader approach to digital assets after lifting its long-standing cryptocurrency ban in 2024. Since taking office in slow 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 cryptocurrency products and services, including stablecoin-based accounts.
According to CoinMarketCap, USDT is the largest stablecoin in the world with a market capitalization of over $184 billion.
Related: USDT wins payments, USDC wins DeFi as stablecoins diverge: Dune
Dollar scarcity fuels stablecoin growth
Bolivia’s stablecoin initiative comes as the country grapples with a prolonged shortage of U.S. dollars, which are widely used alongside the national currency, the boliviano.
As reported by Reuters reportedBolivia maintained an official exchange rate of 6.86 bolivianos per U.S. dollar for purchases and 6.96 for sales from 2011 until earlier this year, when growing pressure on foreign exchange reserves forced the government to abandon its long-standing peg. The resulting dollar shortage fueled the development of a parallel currency market in which the dollar traded at a significant premium to the official rate.
The widening gap between official and parallel exchange rates has increased demand for dollar-denominated alternatives, including stablecoins such as USDT, which are increasingly used for payments.
Bolivia took a high place in the Chainalytics 2025 ranking rate cryptocurrency adoption in Latin America, with total transaction volume of $14.8 billion over the 12-month period.
Related: Crypto Biz: How stablecoins found their niche
