Argentina's Central Bank to Allow Banks to Provide Crypto Services in 2026
The Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA) is considering lifting its ban on banks offering cryptocurrency-related services, with new rules potentially ready by April 2026. This shift follows the 2023 election of Javier Milei and aims to boost crypto adoption amid Argentina's ongoing economic crisis and inflation.
Argentina is a leading crypto adopter; Chainalysis ranks it 15th globally for active crypto wallet users, with about 10 million users. Between July 2023 and June 2024, the country's on-chain volume totaled approximately $91 billion, making Argentina the most active crypto market in Latin America. More than 60% of this activity involves stablecoins such as USDT, which are used widely to dollarize savings.
Previously, the central bank prohibited banks from handling crypto operations, but authorities have shifted to a more crypto-friendly stance since Milei took office. Regionally, Brazil maintains the most explicit bank-crypto laws. Panama is permissive but lacks a central-bank framework, while El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021 and, in August 2025, implemented a banking law allowing private banks to offer digital asset services to high-net-worth investors.
The timeline for implementing new crypto regulations in Argentina comes from La Nacion, quoting sources close to the BCRA.
