Crypto
Navigating the Rise of Cryptocurrency in Latin America
Cryptocurrency adoption in Latin America is
experiencing explosive growth, driven by a mix of factors in the area like
economic instability, financial innovation, and regulatory evolution. Countries
like Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico are emerging as global leaders in
cryptocurrency usage, offering a fertile ground for both individuals and
businesses to explore digital assets as practical solutions for real-world
financial challenges.
To learn more about Latin America’s rapidly
evolving crypto market, download our whitepaper, “Unlock the Potential of Latin
America’s Booming Crypto Market.”
Read the report on the Latam’s blooming cryptocurrency market.
The rising wave of crypto in Latin
America
Cryptocurrency adoption in Latin America is
accelerating, fueled by inflation and currency devaluation. In Argentina, where
inflation has devastated the peso, Bitcoin and stablecoins have played an
important role in protecting savings. Around 15% of the population uses crypto
regularly, finding it a critical hedge against inflation.
In Brazil, crypto is even being integrated
into mainstream finance. The country was one of the first to approve
cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and by 2023, the value of USDT
transactions was equivalent to $55 billion, more than 80% of its crypto volume.
This makes Brazil a key player in the global crypto market.
Mexico has carved out a niche in crypto
remittances, with Bitso processing over $3.3 billion in cross-border payments
in 2022. Crypto is emerging as a more efficient solution for these
transactions, benefiting millions of families reliant on remittances.
Regulatory evolution driving market growth
The regulatory environment across Latin
America is evolving, creating opportunities for businesses to expand. For example,
El Salvador made history by becoming the first country to adopt Bitcoin as
legal tender, with further initiatives like Bitcoin-backed bonds and a
government-sponsored crypto wallet. This bold experiment has positioned El
Salvador as a global trailblazer for cryptocurrency adoption, even as its
long-term effects are being evaluated.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s fintech law from 2018
recognized cryptocurrencies as virtual assets, establishing a clear regulatory
pathway for businesses. This clarity has helped companies like Bitso thrive. Meanwhile,
Colombia’s regulatory sandbox has promoted crypto experimentation in a
controlled environment, attracting fintechs and positioning the country as a
future hub for innovation.
Argentina, while still working on a
comprehensive regulatory framework, has seen increased interest in crypto
regulation under its new pro-crypto government. Colombia’s sandbox model is
providing fintechs with a controlled environment to test their offerings,
positioning the country as an emerging leader in the digital asset space as
well.
Emerging opportunities
Despite infrastructure and regulatory
challenges, Latin America offers immense opportunities for crypto growth.
Argentina and Venezuela, with their hyperinflationary economies, continue to
see widespread crypto adoption as citizens seek alternatives to their unstable
currencies. Stablecoins like USDT and USDC can help individuals and businesses
in these countries by providing greater financial stability.
Mexico’s growing role in crypto remittances
and Colombia’s fintech-friendly environment highlight the region’s potential
for further expansion. Tokenization is another area of growth, with Brazil’s
agricultural commodity token project, Agrotoken, revolutionizing access to
credit for small farmers. Brazil’s Drex initiative also highlights the
country’s commitment to developing a fully digital economy and integrating
blockchain technology into mainstream financial systems.
Latin America’s complex economic landscape,
combined with its openness to crypto solutions, makes it an exciting market for
businesses seeking to leverage digital assets. By addressing regulatory and
payment infrastructure challenges, companies can unlock the full potential of
this rapidly evolving crypto market.
The role of payment solutions in this evolving
market
Cross-border payments and regulatory
complexities are significant hurdles for businesses expanding into the Latin
American crypto market. The region’s rising demand for remittances, along with
fragmented payment infrastructures, means businesses must navigate
multi-currency transactions. Additionally, evolving regulatory landscapes
require businesses to stay compliant while managing operational risks.
Paysafe addresses these challenges by
offering solutions that streamline cross-border payments, supporting multiple
currencies and reducing transaction costs. With strong integration into key
local systems, Paysafe helps businesses deliver the seamless payment options
customers expect.
Furthermore, Paysafe’s regulatory expertise
ensures businesses remain compliant across diverse markets, while its advanced
security features protect against fraud, providing businesses with the trust
and reliability they need to thrive in the region’s fast-growing crypto
ecosystem.
Conclusion
Latin America is a prime market for
cryptocurrency adoption and its growth shows no sign of slowing down. From the
pioneering efforts of El Salvador to the sophisticated regulatory framework in
Brazil, the region offers diverse use cases for businesses looking to enter or
expand their crypto operations. Our whitepaper highlights that despite
challenges like regulatory fragmentation and cultural nuances, Latin America
presents tremendous opportunities for growth.
For more detailed insights and strategies,
download our whitepaper, “Unlock the Potential of Latin America’s Booming
Crypto Market.”
Read the report on the Latam’s blooming cryptocurrency market.
By leveraging Paysafe’s comprehensive
payment solutions, businesses can seamlessly navigate the complexities of the Latin
American crypto landscape, unlocking the full potential of one of the world’s
fastest-growing markets.
Disclaimer:
This article is not intended to be
financial, investment or trading advice. This article is for information and
solely for education purposes. It does not protect against any financial loss,
risk or fraud.
Why Paysafe
Paysafe supports Latin American businesses
with over 25 years of experience, offering top-tier fraud, risk, and compliance
support. Their solutions streamline cross-border payments, support multiple
currencies, and reduce transaction costs, enabling confident expansion in the
crypto market.
Cryptocurrency adoption in Latin America is
experiencing explosive growth, driven by a mix of factors in the area like
economic instability, financial innovation, and regulatory evolution. Countries
like Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico are emerging as global leaders in
cryptocurrency usage, offering a fertile ground for both individuals and
businesses to explore digital assets as practical solutions for real-world
financial challenges.
To learn more about Latin America’s rapidly
evolving crypto market, download our whitepaper, “Unlock the Potential of Latin
America’s Booming Crypto Market.”
Read the report on the Latam’s blooming cryptocurrency market.
The rising wave of crypto in Latin
America
Cryptocurrency adoption in Latin America is
accelerating, fueled by inflation and currency devaluation. In Argentina, where
inflation has devastated the peso, Bitcoin and stablecoins have played an
important role in protecting savings. Around 15% of the population uses crypto
regularly, finding it a critical hedge against inflation.
In Brazil, crypto is even being integrated
into mainstream finance. The country was one of the first to approve
cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and by 2023, the value of USDT
transactions was equivalent to $55 billion, more than 80% of its crypto volume.
This makes Brazil a key player in the global crypto market.
Mexico has carved out a niche in crypto
remittances, with Bitso processing over $3.3 billion in cross-border payments
in 2022. Crypto is emerging as a more efficient solution for these
transactions, benefiting millions of families reliant on remittances.
Regulatory evolution driving market growth
The regulatory environment across Latin
America is evolving, creating opportunities for businesses to expand. For example,
El Salvador made history by becoming the first country to adopt Bitcoin as
legal tender, with further initiatives like Bitcoin-backed bonds and a
government-sponsored crypto wallet. This bold experiment has positioned El
Salvador as a global trailblazer for cryptocurrency adoption, even as its
long-term effects are being evaluated.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s fintech law from 2018
recognized cryptocurrencies as virtual assets, establishing a clear regulatory
pathway for businesses. This clarity has helped companies like Bitso thrive. Meanwhile,
Colombia’s regulatory sandbox has promoted crypto experimentation in a
controlled environment, attracting fintechs and positioning the country as a
future hub for innovation.
Argentina, while still working on a
comprehensive regulatory framework, has seen increased interest in crypto
regulation under its new pro-crypto government. Colombia’s sandbox model is
providing fintechs with a controlled environment to test their offerings,
positioning the country as an emerging leader in the digital asset space as
well.
Emerging opportunities
Despite infrastructure and regulatory
challenges, Latin America offers immense opportunities for crypto growth.
Argentina and Venezuela, with their hyperinflationary economies, continue to
see widespread crypto adoption as citizens seek alternatives to their unstable
currencies. Stablecoins like USDT and USDC can help individuals and businesses
in these countries by providing greater financial stability.
Mexico’s growing role in crypto remittances
and Colombia’s fintech-friendly environment highlight the region’s potential
for further expansion. Tokenization is another area of growth, with Brazil’s
agricultural commodity token project, Agrotoken, revolutionizing access to
credit for small farmers. Brazil’s Drex initiative also highlights the
country’s commitment to developing a fully digital economy and integrating
blockchain technology into mainstream financial systems.
Latin America’s complex economic landscape,
combined with its openness to crypto solutions, makes it an exciting market for
businesses seeking to leverage digital assets. By addressing regulatory and
payment infrastructure challenges, companies can unlock the full potential of
this rapidly evolving crypto market.
The role of payment solutions in this evolving
market
Cross-border payments and regulatory
complexities are significant hurdles for businesses expanding into the Latin
American crypto market. The region’s rising demand for remittances, along with
fragmented payment infrastructures, means businesses must navigate
multi-currency transactions. Additionally, evolving regulatory landscapes
require businesses to stay compliant while managing operational risks.
Paysafe addresses these challenges by
offering solutions that streamline cross-border payments, supporting multiple
currencies and reducing transaction costs. With strong integration into key
local systems, Paysafe helps businesses deliver the seamless payment options
customers expect.
Furthermore, Paysafe’s regulatory expertise
ensures businesses remain compliant across diverse markets, while its advanced
security features protect against fraud, providing businesses with the trust
and reliability they need to thrive in the region’s fast-growing crypto
ecosystem.
Conclusion
Latin America is a prime market for
cryptocurrency adoption and its growth shows no sign of slowing down. From the
pioneering efforts of El Salvador to the sophisticated regulatory framework in
Brazil, the region offers diverse use cases for businesses looking to enter or
expand their crypto operations. Our whitepaper highlights that despite
challenges like regulatory fragmentation and cultural nuances, Latin America
presents tremendous opportunities for growth.
For more detailed insights and strategies,
download our whitepaper, “Unlock the Potential of Latin America’s Booming
Crypto Market.”
Read the report on the Latam’s blooming cryptocurrency market.
By leveraging Paysafe’s comprehensive
payment solutions, businesses can seamlessly navigate the complexities of the Latin
American crypto landscape, unlocking the full potential of one of the world’s
fastest-growing markets.
Disclaimer:
This article is not intended to be
financial, investment or trading advice. This article is for information and
solely for education purposes. It does not protect against any financial loss,
risk or fraud.
Why Paysafe
Paysafe supports Latin American businesses
with over 25 years of experience, offering top-tier fraud, risk, and compliance
support. Their solutions streamline cross-border payments, support multiple
currencies, and reduce transaction costs, enabling confident expansion in the
crypto market.
Financially Settled Ether (“FET”) Futures
| Vendor | Front Month | M25 Contract |
|---|---|---|
| Activ Financial / Options Technology | FET/*.CF | FET/25M.CF |
| BarChart | Y9*0 | Y9M5 |
| Bloomberg | FET = FTEA Curncy | FET = FTEA Curncy |
| CQG | FET? | FETM25 |
| DevExperts | /FETM25:XCBF | /FETM25:XCBF |
| DTN IQ | @FET | @FETM25 |
| DTN ProphetX | @FET | @FETM25 |
| Factset | FET.1-USA | FETM25-USA, FETM25-CBF |
| Interactive Data / ICE | F2:FET1C | F2:FETM25 |
| LiveVol | N/A | FETM25 |
| Morningstar | FET0Y | FETM25 |
| PICO | FET/M5 June 2025 | FET/M5 June 2025 |
| Silexx | N/A | FET/M25 |
| Six-Group | FET | FET5M or FETM5 |
| TradeStation | FETM25 | FETM25 |
| Trading Technologies | FET Jun25 | FET Jun25 |
Financially Settled Bitcoin (“FBT”) Futures
| Vendor | Front Month | M25 Contract |
|---|---|---|
| Activ Financial / Options Technology | FBT/*.CF | FBT/25M.CF |
| BarChart | Y7*0 | Y7M5 |
| Bloomberg | FBT = FXBA Curncy | FBT = FXBA Curncy |
| CQG | FBT? | FBTM25 |
| DevExperts | /FBTM25:XCBF | /FBTM25:XCBF |
| DTN IQ | @FBT | @FBTM25 |
| DTN ProphetX | @FBT | @FBTM25 |
| Factset | FBTC.1-USA | FBTCM25-USA, FBTCM25-CBF |
| Interactive Data / ICE | F2:FBT1C | F2:FBTM25 |
| LiveVol | N/A | FBTM25 |
| Morningstar | FBT0Y | FBTM25 |
| PICO | FBT/M5 June 2025 | FBT/M5 June 2025 |
| Silexx | N/A | FBT/M25 |
| Six-Group | FBT | FBT5M or FBT5M |
| TradeStation | FBTM25 | FBTM25 |
| Trading Technologies | FBT Jun25 | FBT Jun25 |
Crypto
This Popular Cryptocurrency Could Soar by 177% in 2026, According to Wall Street Analyst Tom Lee
Key Points
-
Ethereum is the leading platform for developers who want to build decentralized software applications, which are popular in areas like gaming and finance.
-
Ether, which is Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency, set a new record high during 2025, but it ended the year in the red.
-
Wall Street analyst Tom Lee thinks Ether could soar in the early stages of 2026, and he chairs a company that owns over $13 billion worth of coins.
Cryptocurrencies had a tough year in 2025, with most popular coins and tokens suffering losses. Not even the industry leaders like Bitcoin and Ethereum(CRYPTO: ETH) were spared, ending the year down 5% and 11%, respectively.
But 2026 is here, and Wall Street analyst Tom Lee recently came out with a set of very bullish forecasts. He thinks Ether, which is the native cryptocurrency of the Ethereum network, could soar to $9,000 per coin early in the year, implying a potential upside of 177% from where it’s trading as I write this.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue »
Lee founded Fundstrat Global Advisors, but he’s also the chairman of BitMine Immersion Technologies(NYSEMKT: BMNR), which owns approximately $13.4 billion worth of Ethereum, so he certainly has some skin in the game. How realistic is his latest forecast?
Image source: Getty Images.
What is Ethereum?
Ethereum is a platform where people develop decentralized software applications, which are increasingly popular in industries like gaming and financial services. These apps are governed by smart contracts, which are pieces of computer code that live on the Ethereum blockchain. They typically can’t be changed, so no person or company can manipulate the app’s core set of rules, ensuring it stays decentralized.
The Ethereum network itself is also completely decentralized. Instead of using one large data center, it’s hosted on thousands of nodes (computers) all over the world that store an updated copy of its blockchain. Therefore, the network won’t be compromised even if some nodes go down, and that’s how Ethereum has boasted 100% uptime over the last decade.
Ether is like the fuel that makes the Ethereum network function. Every time a person activates a smart contract by using an app, or even transfers a crypto token built on Ethereum, they incur a fee that is payable in Ether. Therefore, the larger the network grows, the more demand there is for Ether, and the more valuable the coin becomes (in theory).
Thousands of decentralized apps have been built on Ethereum so far. Uniswap, for instance, is a popular exchange where people can trade their cryptocurrencies for other cryptocurrencies. Pricing and execution is handled entirely by smart contracts with no intermediaries, creating a lightning-fast and cost-effective experience. Users don’t even need to create an account, because they can connect their crypto wallets directly to Uniswap and immediately start transacting.
How realistic is Lee’s target?
Tom Lee thinks decentralized apps will take over the financial industry, and as the largest platform of its kind, he’s betting Ethereum will lead the transition. The world’s largest asset manager, BlackRock, is already exploring plans to tokenize some of its exchange-traded funds (ETFs) by moving them onto the blockchain, where they can trade more efficiently compared to using traditional stock exchanges.
That is just one example suggesting Lee could eventually be right. But the growing adoption of stablecoins — many of which are built on Ethereum — is another sign. These cryptocurrencies are designed to maintain a stable value (hence their name), and they can be sent anywhere in the world practically instantly. Therefore, they are far more efficient than traditional payment rails that often take several days to move money across borders.
According to Cathie Wood’s Ark Investment Management, over $15 trillion in payment volume was processed using stablecoins in 2024, which was more volume than both Visa and Mastercard processed.
But could all of this send Ether soaring by 177% to $9,000 per coin in the early stages of 2026? I’m not so sure. Ether climbed to a record price of $4,946 per coin in 2025, which was a win for investors, but it was the first new high in four years. Plus, the coin has already lost 32% of its peak value, so I’m not sure if it can muster enough momentum to almost triple in value in the next few months like Lee predicts.
With that said, $9,000 per coin would give Ether a market capitalization of around $1.08 trillion, so it would still be much smaller than Bitcoin, which has a market cap of $1.85 trillion. Therefore, I wouldn’t rule out Lee’s target, especially if the decentralized revolution continues to gather momentum, but I would certainly be cautious about the timing. Plus, it’s important to remember Lee chairs the BitMine Immersion Technologies company, which owns 4.1 million Ether coins, so he has a vested interest in putting forward highly bullish targets.
Should you buy stock in Ethereum right now?
Before you buy stock in Ethereum, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Ethereum wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $488,222!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,134,333!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 969% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 196% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
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*Stock Advisor returns as of January 10, 2026.
Anthony Di Pizio has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, Mastercard, and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends BlackRock. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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