# Bolivia considers USDT as payment currency amid dollar shortage The country moves to integrate Tether's stablecoin into its official payment system as a solution to dollar scarcity. - **Source:** [Cointelegraph.com News](https://brifing.si/source/2e81e982-0137-4db0-8ac2-351f37085775) - **Published:** 2026-07-13 - **Topic:** [Finance](https://brifing.si/c/finance) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/f613b81b-0271-4e29-9dc2-633b644e6cca ## Stablecoin initiative The Bolivian government is evaluating the integration of Tether's USDt stablecoin into its official payment system. This step is seen as part of the country's efforts to address chronic dollar shortages. Economy Minister Espinoza announced that USDT could circulate as 'just another currency' alongside the boliviano and US dollar. ## Regulatory framework preparation The government is working on a regulatory framework that would allow the use of USDT in daily transactions. If implemented, citizens could use USDT for payments, savings, and trade. However, Bolivia on FATF's grey list needs to strengthen its anti-money laundering mechanisms. ## Crypto ban lifted This move follows Bolivia's lifting of its long-standing cryptocurrency ban in 2024. The Pereira administration, which took office in 2025, pledged to integrate digital assets into the formal financial system. This paves the way for banks to offer crypto products like stablecoin-based accounts. ## Impact of dollar shortage Bolivia's fixed exchange rate system in place since 2011 was abandoned this year due to pressure on forex reserves. The dollar shortage created a parallel forex market where dollars traded at a steep premium. This increased demand for dollar-pegged stablecoins like USDT. ## Regional crypto adoption According to Chainalysis data, Bolivia ranks high in crypto adoption in Latin America. The country recorded $14.8 billion in crypto transaction volume over 12 months. USDT's use in daily transactions could further strengthen this trend. ## Global stablecoin market With a market cap exceeding $184 billion, USDT is the world's largest stablecoin. Bolivia's move sets an important precedent for stablecoin integration into official financial systems in developing countries, reflecting global crypto adoption trends. ## Sources covering this story - https://cointelegraph.com/news/bolivia-weighs-usdt-payment-currency-amid-dollar-shortage?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._