Stablecoins Dominate Latin America Crypto Purchases
BITmarkets Team
May 01, 2026
According to a 2025 report by Bitso, 40% of crypto purchases in the region were US dollar-pegged stablecoins such as Tether and USD Coin, while Bitcoin accounted for 18%. This marks the first time stablecoin purchases have exceeded Bitcoin in the region. The findings are based on activity from nearly 10 million retail users on Bitso’s platform.
“Digital dollarization” gains momentum
The report highlights a broader trend described as “digital dollarization,” where users increasingly turn to stablecoins as a way to manage financial uncertainty.In economies facing persistent inflation, currency depreciation, and limited access to traditional banking services, stablecoins provide a more accessible way to store value and transact in US dollar equivalents.
Although the US dollar itself is subject to inflation, it tends to lose value more gradually than many local currencies and remains the dominant global medium of exchange, making it a preferred benchmark for users seeking relative stability.
The global stablecoin market has expanded to around $320 billion, with adoption rising across both developed and emerging markets. In Latin America, their utility is particularly practical, supporting savings, payments, and cross-border remittances.
Local innovation is also contributing to adoption. Mercado Libre recently introduced a cross-border remittance product powered by its Meli dollar stablecoin for users in Brazil, Mexico, and Chile, following the earlier discontinuation of its Mercado Coin project.
Bitcoin retains role as long-term store of value
Despite a decline in its share of transaction activity, Bitcoin continues to play a key role in long-term holdings across the region. “Bitcoin continues to function as Latin America’s primary long-term digital store of value,” the Bitso report said, noting that the asset is held in 52% of crypto portfolios in 2025, only slightly down from 53% the previous year.
Bitcoin has long been regarded as a store of value, despite periods of volatility and uneven performance across market cycles. The asset previously climbed above $126,000 in October before retracing sharply, later trading in the low $60,000 range.
Recent research by MarketVector Indexes suggests that the store-of-value narrative extends beyond price performance, highlighting shared characteristics between Bitcoin and gold, such as scarcity, decentralization, and resistance to supply expansion, which may underpin their long-term appeal.
Sources:
https://www.marketvector.com/insights/mvis-insights/rethinking-store-of-value
https://blog.bitso.com/blog/crypto-landscape-in-latin-america-2025