Tether CEO Paulo Arduino posted images of a store at a Bolivian airport where items like sunglasses and sweets are priced in USDT (Tether). “Prices are based on the daily reference price announced by the Central Bank of Bolivia and the Binance exchange rate,” the sign says; customers can pay in Bolivianos, dollars, or USDT.
Previously, local bank Banco Bisa had offered USDT custody and exchange services since October 2024, which is a significant development in the Bolivian banking landscape. This comes in a context where Bolivia’s foreign exchange reserves have declined from around $15 billion in 2014 to just $1.98 billion in December 2024.
Additionally, the black market dollar exchange rate in Bolivia has risen to around 10 bolivianos per dollar, while the official rate is around 7 bolivianos. Consumer inflation was also recorded at 14.6% in March 2025.
A pack of Oreos has been priced at between 15 and 22 USDT, reflecting the sharp decline in the purchasing power of the local currency. This move could be the beginning of an informal expansion of USDT use in the Bolivian economy.
