Cryptocurrencies Seek to Integrate into Finance

The ownership and use of cryptocurrencies are growing in Argentina at a rate higher than in other markets. According to the latest report from Chainalysis, the country is the second-largest crypto market in Latin America, only behind Brazil. "Between July 2025 and June 2026, US$88.5 billion was transacted in Argentina, a 15.3% increase from the previous year and a very significant figure for a country of our size," states Matías Alberti, general manager of Binance for Argentina and the Southern Cone. According to a study by Nexo, 74.3% of surveyed Argentine investors report having some allocation to cryptocurrencies, the highest proportion among the three markets analyzed (the United States, the United Kingdom, and Argentina). However, the difference with more developed markets is that locally it is still not a long-term investment instrument, but rather one for preservation or transactional purposes. The same report, The Future of Digital Wealth 2026, puts it this way: "Among those who reduced their holdings of traditional assets to allocate capital to cryptocurrencies, 45.8% moved funds from cash, compared to 26.8% from stocks, 16.2% from bonds, and 11.3% from real estate." "That is to say - summarizes the report - cryptocurrencies frequently entered Argentine portfolios as an alternative to cash and remain more linked to short-term needs than to long-term planning." There lies the next barrier to overcome, according to experts. "Although Argentina has the highest percentage of cryptocurrency ownership among the analyzed markets, it also has the lowest integration index, at 4.62 out of 10," states Andrés Ondarra, general manager of Nexo Argentina. "This reflects that there is still a significant opportunity to incorporate digital assets into broader and longer-term financial strategies.

Path to Integration

"Argentina is one of the markets with the highest adoption of cryptocurrencies, primarily driven by economic factors such as inflation, currency volatility, and the search for alternatives to preserve the value of savings. This is complemented by a strong familiarity among Argentines with digital financial tools and a rapid adaptation to new technologies," posits Andrés Ondarra, general manager of Nexo Argentina. The first approach to the ecosystem of digital currencies "is linked to immediate financial needs, such as preserving purchasing power and diversifying savings," says Ondarra, presenting the following challenge: "We see a significant opportunity for digital assets to evolve from a savings alternative to an increasingly integrated tool in people's financial lives." If the goal is to preserve the value of money, stablecoins, cryptocurrencies tied to the value of the dollar, such as USDC and USDT, are the favorites. They serve as a kind of "digital cushion" where savings are kept tied to the dollar's price. In fact, according to the latest Global Cryptocurrency Adoption Index from Chainalysis, the use of these digital currencies has grown significantly in Argentina and represents nearly 60% of total operations. Gradually**, basic needs are giving way to new functions and integration with the traditional financial system.** In this sense, partnerships with payment companies like Mastercard or Visa are a strong signal of progress towards the complementarity of both worlds. "For the user, that integration is already a reality," says Alberti from Binance. "A few years ago, crypto seemed like a parallel universe to the financial system. Today, the boundary is becoming increasingly blurred. And I don't think it's about one replacing the other, but rather about them complementing each other," he asserts, providing a concrete example: "With the Binance card, a person can pay with their digital assets at Mastercard merchants worldwide and locally use the QR code. For the user, the experience is the same as with any other payment method: they don't have to think about whether there is a bank or a blockchain on the other side. That is the goal: to keep the technology in the background." Ondarra echoes this sentiment: "Today, the ecosystem offers many more possibilities, in addition to saving or preserving value. From generating returns and accessing liquidity using digital assets as collateral to making payments and managing wealth from a single platform." "Adoption does not solely depend on adding functionalities, but also on providing simple, secure, and reliable experiences," emphasizes the Nexo executive. Nexo, like Binance and other crypto platforms, allows users to centralize their payment, transfer, credit, or investment operations, just as banks do in the traditional system. Both worlds, all experts agree, are complementary. On the other hand, international transfers using the blockchain as a channel are a growing reality for Argentines who work and receive payments from abroad.

Tax Payment

If cryptocurrencies advance to coexist with traditional currencies (FIAT currencies), the tax impact of their ownership is important for users. "Cryptocurrencies must be declared in the assets as of December 31 of each year and are subject to the Personal Property Tax." However, there are different criteria depending on where the cryptocurrencies are located, as explained in detail by Diego Rodríguez, Tax Supervisor at TMF Group: "If the crypto assets are in an Argentine exchange, that is, held by a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) based in Argentina, they could be considered assets located in the country. On the other hand, if they are in a foreign exchange (Binance, Kraken, Coinbase, etc.), the more conservative stance is to consider them assets located abroad. If they are in a cold wallet (hardware wallet) or in self-custody, the situation is less clear, as there is no custodial intermediary," he clarifies. Gustavo Campos, partner at PwC Argentina, adds that the results from the sale (buy-sell) of crypto assets are subject to the Income Tax, with different treatment depending on the source of the income. "If it is income from Argentine sources, it is taxed under the single tax at a rate of 5% or 15%, as applicable, depending on whether the sale of digital currencies is made in pesos or in foreign currency," Campos points out. He adds: "In the case of foreign source results, the profits obtained by individuals are taxed at 15%, without the exchange differences being subject to tax." When do cryptocurrency holdings come to the attention of ARCA? This is a common question, and Campos answers it this way: "Exchanges operating in our country are required to register in the Registry of Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP), created by the National Securities Commission (CNV), and to exchange periodic information with the tax authorities." He adds that, at the international level, the cryptocurrency market will also have news regarding information exchange. "At the initiative of the OECD, the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) is in effect." Argentina has committed to start the automatic exchange of information on cryptocurrency transactions by September 2029 at the latest.

This content is provided for general informational purposes only and doesn't constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Any events, rewards, online promotions, or related information mentioned herein should not be considered a recommendation, solicitation, or invitation to purchase, sell, trade, or otherwise deal in any crypto assets. Crypto assets are highly volatile and may result in loss. The availability of WEEX services, products, and related events may vary by region. You are responsible for ensuring that your participation is in accordance with applicable local laws and regulations.