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Argentina is considering a major policy shift that would allow domestic banks to trade digital assets and offer crypto-related services. The Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA) is reviewing its current framework, which prohibits banking institutions from participating in digital asset activities, La Nación reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
The proposed changes would mark a significant departure from long-standing rules restricting banks from engaging with cryptocurrencies. La Nación’s sources did not disclose specific details or a regulatory timeline, but a senior representative from a major crypto exchange operating in Argentina said that the updated rules could be approved as early as April 2026.
Local exchanges and industry analysts say that opening the door for banks to access cryptocurrencies and offer digital asset products would likely trigger a new era of mainstream adoption in Argentina.
Argentina logged $93.9 billion in cryptocurrency transactions between July 2022 and June 2025, making it the second-largest market in Latin America, only surpassed by Brazil, according to the Block, citing a Chainalysis research from October.
With inflation pressures and a volatile peso continuing to drive demand for digital assets, analysts believe that bank-integrated crypto services could normalise crypto use across savings, payments, and cross-border transactions.
The developments in Argentina come as neighbouring Brazil, the region’s largest crypto market, strengthens its regulatory framework. Brazil fully included the digital asset industry in its financial legislation in 2025, requiring all crypto service providers to seek central bank authorisation in order to conduct business.
As regional governments attempt to strike a balance between innovation and consumer safeguards, analysts speculate that Argentina’s possible action may be an attempt to stay competitive and in line with more general Latin American regulatory tendencies.
Crypto adoption is gaining momentum around the world. In its recently released 2024 Payment and Settlement Report, South Korea’s central bank underlined its commitment to proactively influence regulatory frameworks for the use of cryptocurrency, most specifically stablecoins.
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom recently introduced the Property (Digital Assets etc) Act, which formally classifies cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and tokenised instruments as a new category of personal property. India’s Madras High Court also declared in October that cryptocurrencies are “property” under Indian law, giving their holders the same legal protections as those of owners of material or monetary goods.
In related news, India is moving closer to introducing a central bank-backed digital currency (CBDC), designed to simplify transactions, reduce paper use, and offer faster, traceable payments built on blockchain technology. According to several media reports, Piyush Goyal, the minister of commerce, has announced that India will soon introduce a digital currency that is insured by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
India ranked first in cryptocurrency adoption for 2025, according to the sixth Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index. The United States came in second, indicating a rise in activity in both nations. The research showed, market trends are being influenced by institutional investment and grassroots usage. India leads in all measured categories, including retail and institutional flows. The US rise is linked to higher institutional involvement following the approval of spot bitcoin ETFs. Pakistan, Vietnam, and Brazil complete the top five.
