Global inflation has cooled from the extreme levels of the early 2020s, but in several regions, local currencies remain unstable enough for citizens to turn to crypto as a practical financial alternative. Across Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia, persistent inflation, foreign-exchange shortages and limited access to global payment rails continue to drive grassroots crypto adoption.Bolivia: USDT Becomes a Pricing Benchmark as Inflation Surges Above 22%Bolivia’s inflation reached 22.23% in October 2025, remaining significantly elevated despite moderating from a mid-year spike. Years of economic decline, combined with dwindling foreign reserves that fell from $15 billion in 2014 to just $1.98 billion by late 2024, have eroded confidence in the boliviano.Against this backdrop, crypto adoption has grown rapidly. Chainalysis estimates $14.8 billion in crypto transaction volume between June 2024 and June 2025.Over the summer, retail shops began listing prices in Tether’s USDT, with signage explicitly stating that the stablecoin’s reference price is based on daily exchange rates sourced from the Central Bank of Bolivia through Binance. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino publicly highlighted the trend after sharing photos of USDT-denominated price tags.The government has moved in the same direction. Bolivia's economic ministry announced that banks will now be permitted to offer crypto custody and that crypto assets may be used as legal tender for savings and credit products.Venezuela: Triple-Digit Inflation and Growing Dependence on StablecoinsVenezuela continues to suffer one of the world’s most severe inflation crises. Official data puts the inflation rate at 172% in April 2025, while IMF projections place annual inflation closer to 270% for the year and expect it to exceed 600% by late 2026.Crypto usage has grown accordingly. Chainalysis data shows Venezuelans received $44.6 billion in crypto from July 2024 to June 2025. Stablecoins in particular have become central to everyday transactions. According to reporting by The New York Times, President Nicolás Maduro’s government has effectively “rewired” parts of the economy around dollar-pegged stablecoins, which many Venezuelans colloquially call “Binance dollars.”Opposition figure María Corina Machado has used Bitcoin as part of her economic messaging, although her comments have drawn controversy for exaggerating geopolitical narratives.Argentina: Inflation Falls but Crypto Remains a Financial LifelineArgentina’s inflation rate hit nearly 300% in April 2024 before President Javier Milei took office. His administration introduced aggressive fiscal tightening, slashing subsidies, reducing government spending and halting money printing. The program has pushed inflation down to 31.3% as of October 2025, though levels remain among the highest globally.Despite signs of macroeconomic stabilization, crypto usage continues to grow. Chainalysis ranks Argentina as the second-largest crypto market in Latin America, with $93.9 billion in transaction volume during the study period. Citizens frequently rely on stablecoins to protect savings from peso devaluation, even though formal government adoption of crypto remains limited.Turkey: Post-Crisis Inflation Drives Both Stablecoin and Altcoin UsageTurkey has brought inflation down from its October 2022 peak of 85% to roughly 32% as of October 2025, after reversing several years of unorthodox monetary policy. Even so, inflation remains high, and Turkish savers have increasingly turned to digital assets.Chainalysis reports that Turkey leads the Middle East and North Africa region with $200 billion in crypto transactions between July 2024 and June 2025. Stablecoins were historically dominant, but recent on-chain data suggests a growing shift toward higher-risk altcoin trading. Analysts attribute this to pressure on household savings and a search for yield amid a restrictive regulatory landscape and persistent currency weakness.Iran: Sanctions and Currency Instability Accelerate Crypto UseIran’s inflation rate rose to 45.3% in September 2025, continuing a multi-year trend driven by sanctions, currency devaluation and increased government spending. Plans to redenominate the rial underscore the magnitude of the crisis.Iran has long used crypto to bypass sanctions and facilitate international trade. Mining was legalized in 2019, though high electricity costs have pushed many miners underground. Despite strict regulation, crypto inflows are on track to exceed both 2023 and 2024 levels, according to Chainalysis.Nigeria: Inflation Declines Sharply, but Crypto Remains a Preferred Store of ValueNigeria’s inflation has dropped from above 30% to 16% in October 2025, marking its lowest level in three years. Improved food supply conditions and monetary policy changes — including the removal of fuel subsidies, exchange-rate unification, and the first benchmark interest rate cut in years — have helped stabilize prices.However, crypto adoption remains robust. Nigeria leads Sub-Saharan Africa in digital asset activity with $92.1 billion in crypto received between July 2024 and June 2025. Chainalysis attributes this to a combination of inflation hedging, currency access challenges and the country’s large, technologically savvy youth population.Crypto’s Role Amid Global Inflation PressuresWhile global inflation has eased from the unprecedented levels triggered by the pandemic and geopolitical shocks, many nations continue to face unstable currencies, fractured payment systems and unreliable monetary policy. In these environments, crypto — especially dollar-pegged stablecoins — functions as an accessible hedge, a savings vehicle and a workaround for capital controls.As long as structural weaknesses persist in local monetary systems, crypto will continue to serve millions as a parallel financial infrastructure rather than a speculative alternative, according to Cointelegraph.
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