Cuba ‘Studies’ Cryptocurrencies, Expert Floats Cent’l Asia Crypto Idea

Adoption Latin America
Last updated:
Author
Author
Tim Alper
About Author

Tim Alper is a British journalist and features writer who has worked at Cryptonews.com since 2018. He has written for media outlets such as the BBC, the Guardian, and Chosun Ilbo. He has also worked...

Last updated:
Why Trust Cryptonews
Cryptonews has covered the cryptocurrency industry topics since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts have extensive experience in market analysis and blockchain technologies. We strive to maintain high editorial standards, focusing on factual accuracy and balanced reporting across all areas - from cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects to industry events, products, and technological developments. Our ongoing presence in the industry reflects our commitment to delivering relevant information in the evolving world of digital assets. Read more about Cryptonews

The Cuban government says it is “studying the use” of cryptocurrencies in an effort to boost the country’s flagging economy as American-led sanctions continue to bite.

Source: iStock/xavierarnau

The United States has ramped up sanctions against Cuba in recent months, with tourism and educational travel bans, as well as a recent ban on the Havana-owned oil company Cubametales, which America says is supporting the Nicolás Maduro regime in Venezuela.

Media outlet La Vanguardia quotes Cuba’s Minister of Economy and Planning, Alejandro Gil, as stating, “We are considering studying the application of [cryptocurrencies] in national and international commercial matters […] Measures of this type can allow us to move forward, looking for solutions to problems. We have to look for alternative means to solve economic problems.”

Gil joined the country’s president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, as well as other ministers, on a special television broadcast, where the politicians discussed measures that might help raise national production and demand in an attempt to spark economic growth. The president hinted that cryptocurrency-powered solutions might allow Cuba to make use of its own economic resources and could “strengthen domestic reserves.”

Venezuela has experienced a sharp rise in cryptocurrency usage, and the Maduro government launched its state-run, oil reserves-backed cryptocurrency, the Petro in an attempt to escape the pressure of sanctions. President Donald Trump has banned the cryptocurrency, and promised to place sanctions on countries and companies that agree to deal with the Petro in any form.

Meanwhile, in Kazakhstan, a senior Accenture official has put forward a proposal for a “Central Asian cryptocurrency” run by Kazakhstan. Per Kun.uz, Anton Musin, the managing director of Accenture Kazakhstan, regulations are the only thing standing between the idea and a functioning Central Asian cryptocurrency – as the technology is already in place.

Musin, who earlier this year suggested that the UAE and Saudi Arabia launch a similar initiative, stated that his proposal would “make sense” for both Astana and the greater region.

However, he noted that the cryptocurrency might be something “of a corporate nature, for banks to enable cross-border transactions, not as a tool of payment for [ordinary] people.” Musin stated that “In the future, based on the sort of regulation that will be adopted [in Central Asian countries], this is a completely applicable scenario.”

More Articles

Opinions
Opinion: Crypto Has a Trust Problem—Here’s How We Can Fix It
Mona El Isa
Mona El Isa
2025-02-16 18:08:06
Features
Coinbase Just Made Huge Predictions on Crypto’s Future
Connor Sephton
Connor Sephton
2025-02-16 18:03:15
Crypto News in numbers
editors
Authors List + 66 More
2M+
Active Monthly Users Around the World
250+
Guides and Reviews Articles
8
Years on the Market
70
International Team Authors