Latin America: less faith in local currencies
Only 51% of the Latin American (ILF) economy has access to banking services, with political and currency fluctuations repeatedly undermining trust in local currencies. Moreover, increased compliance requirements and costs have caused many traditional financial institutions to exit the market. This phenomenon offers a growth opportunity to automated compliance, blockchain technology innovations, digital currency platforms and cross-border payments systems that help avoid transaction costs.
Blockchain innovation initiatives being taken in Latin America
- Brazil’s central bank is seeking to investigate possible use cases for blockchain technology and is now moving toward prototyping.
- Brazilian (EWZ) (CSBR) banks have already trodden the path. Banco Itaú and Banco Bradesco are a part of the R3 consortium. Banco Bradesco is launching pilot projects such as a new digital wallet using blockchain technology in partnership with eWally and Bit.One, to address cross-border payments.
- Chile’s (ECH) Santiago Exchange and IBM (IBM) have partnered to implement blockchain technology into the country’s financial services sector.
- Mexico (EWW) based start-up, Bitso secured $2.5 million in funding in early 2017.
- Mexican venture capital fund, INGIA, invested in Abra, the US blockchain mobile payments startup.
- In Argentina (ARGT), startups such as Rootcamp provides smart contract solutions for bitcoin technology, while SatoshiTango and Xapo provide bitcoin-based payments solutions.
- Argentina-based Ripio wants to transform banking on the blockchain with the Ethereum blockchain’s ERC 20 protocol credit network using smart contracts for borrowers, lenders and underwriters.
- Uruguay is currently experimenting with its own blockchain-based digital currency, according to a statement made by the Banco Central del Uruguay’s (BDC) chief, Mario Bergara.
- Cryptobuyer, a leading cryptocurrency (ARKW) (ARKK), and digital assets company in the Latin America is the first company ever to install Bitcoin ATMs (BTMs) in a commercial bank (Banistmo Bank’s headquarters).
