- A new framework will allow trading, custody and approved coins.
- Banks will be required to follow strict KYC, AML and CNV rules.
- High inflation has driven people toward Bitcoin and stablecoins.
Argentina is preparing for a major shift in how its financial system handles digital assets. Regulators are developing a plan that could allow banks to offer Bitcoin and other crypto services for the first time in three years.
This move represents a notable change for a country where crypto has become a daily tool for people trying to cope with inflation, and it signals a broader effort to move informal crypto activity into regulated channels.
The proposal is still under review, but internal planning indicates Argentina wants the banking system to play a formal role in access, custody and compliance for crypto assets.
Banks and crypto rules are evolving
Since May 2022, Argentina’s central bank, the Banco Central de la República Argentina, has prohibited banks from handling crypto.
That regulation was designed to limit financial risks and prevent money laundering during a period of economic instability.
Now, the policy is at the center of a broader reassessment of how digital assets fit into a financial system grappling with persistent inflation and increasing demand for stable alternatives.
Since December 2023, the arrival of President Javier Milei has shifted the conversation.
His administration has promoted economic freedom and argued that people should be able to choose different forms of money, including Bitcoin.
This change in tone has influenced regulators’ approach to the existing ban and accelerated work on a new framework.
New framework plans take shape
Reports indicate the central bank is developing a system that would allow banks to integrate crypto into their services.
The plan would include trading access, custody options and a list of approved coins limited to assets such as BTC, ETH, USDC, USDT and XRP.
Banks would need to comply with strict rules under the national securities regulator (CNV), adopt enhanced KYC and AML procedures, and conduct crypto activities through legally separate entities subject to additional capital, security and liquidity requirements.
This approach represents a shift from an outright ban toward controlled participation.
Argentina could become one of the first inflation-hit economies to regulate crypto within mainstream banking instead of leaving it to informal platforms.
The change also aims to close regulatory gaps and increase transparency around transactions that residents already rely on to protect their savings.
Inflation pressure drives demand
Crypto adoption has grown rapidly in Argentina over the past three years as households seek ways to preserve value.
With inflation that reached 1,427% in 2023 and continues to rise by more than 2% monthly, people have turned to Bitcoin and dollar-linked stablecoins to manage daily expenses, store savings and avoid exposure to the peso’s depreciation.
Regulators now want that activity to occur under formal safeguards.
Allowing banks to support crypto services would create a safer environment, reduce reliance on unregulated exchanges and help authorities strengthen financial monitoring.
It would also create a more structured relationship between digital assets and traditional banks during a period of economic stress.
Timeline points to 2026
Although approval is not yet final, experts suggest the updated rules could be ready around April 2026. Technical work on the infrastructure is already underway.
If the proposal proceeds, Argentina could become a key example of how a country facing extreme inflation integrates crypto into conventional financial channels.