People in Latin America are increasingly using stablecoins – cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value, often pegged to the US dollar – for their crypto purchases. Now, they’re buying more stablecoins than Bitcoin.
Summary
- Stablecoins accounted for 40% of crypto purchases on Bitso in 2025, overtaking Bitcoin at 18% for the first time.
- Bitso said nearly 10 million users are increasingly using dollar-pegged tokens to store value and send payments in inflation-hit economies.
- Bitcoin remained in 52% of portfolios in 2025, with Bitso describing it as the region’s primary long term store of value.
A recent report from Bitso shows that in Latin America, stablecoins—cryptocurrencies pegged to the U.S. dollar like Tether and USDC—are now more popular for purchases than Bitcoin. 40% of all buys on the Bitso platform were made with stablecoins, compared to 18% with Bitcoin. This is the first time stablecoins have surpassed Bitcoin in usage in the region. These findings are based on the activity of almost 10 million individual users.
Bitso noted a trend suggesting increasing interest in using cryptocurrencies as a substitute for local currencies in countries struggling with high inflation. They refer to this as “digital dollarization,” as people look for more stable options.
In countries where prices are constantly changing and traditional banking is difficult to access, people are increasingly using stablecoins – digital currencies linked to the U.S. dollar – to save money, pay for things, and send money to family and friends.
Even though the U.S. dollar is experiencing inflation, it’s still more stable than many local currencies and remains the most commonly used currency for everyday transactions. This makes investments tied to the dollar, like dollar-pegged assets, appealing for regular financial needs.
The increasing availability of stablecoins has fueled their popularity, with the market now around $320 billion and growing worldwide. People are primarily using them for payments and sending money across borders, especially in places where it’s difficult to access traditional dollar-based services.
Recently, we’ve seen changes in several local markets. As crypto.news previously reported, Mercado Libre launched a new service in early April that lets people send money internationally using its Meli dollar stablecoin in Brazil, Mexico, and Chile. This came after the company stopped offering its original Mercado Coin earlier this year.
In my research, I’ve found that Bitcoin remains a key part of most crypto portfolios in the region. While the percentage of new purchases has decreased slightly, it’s still present in 52% of portfolios as of 2025, down from 53% the previous year. It’s clear Bitcoin is still seen as the main long-term digital asset for holding value, though we’re seeing more short-term interest and purchases leaning towards stablecoins.
Over the last year, Bitcoin’s price has been quite volatile. It peaked at over $126,000 in October but then fell back down to around $60,000, demonstrating its unpredictable nature.
A recent study by MarketVector found that Bitcoin shares key features with gold – like a limited supply, a decentralized system, and protection against inflation – suggesting it could also be a reliable way to store value over the long term.
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2026-05-01 10:24