Despite a cratering crypto market, many traders in Latin America still see crypto as a way to circumvent unstable or stagnant economies where they live

Caught between rocketing inflation and a cratering crypto market, many stick with Bitcoin. — • MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

Rest of World 2022-06-19

Context & Ripple Effects

Regional crypto use had already extended beyond trading: U.S.-based migrant workers were using it for remittances to Mexico, creating a practical payment use case alongside investment demand.

The story also lands after El Salvador's bitcoin legal-tender experiment showed significant cracks, underscoring the difference between voluntary use during economic stress and state-led adoption.

First-order effects

Latin American traders who view Bitcoin as a way around inflation or stagnant local economies continue using it despite the market decline, leaving them exposed to crypto-price risk while pursuing that alternative.
Bitcoin's regional appeal is framed less as a straightforward investment trade and more as a tool for users facing local economic instability.

Second-order effects

Crypto service providers serving Latin American payments and remittances, including Bitso, retain a demand rationale even when falling prices weaken crypto's appeal to purely speculative users.
El Salvador's troubled legal-tender rollout gives policymakers a cautionary comparison: individual adoption under economic pressure does not validate a nationwide Bitcoin mandate.

Third-order effects

If this pattern persists, Latin American crypto markets may divide between utility-driven users seeking payment or value-transfer alternatives and investors whose participation tracks Bitcoin's price.
The longer-running legitimacy gap will hinge on whether crypto services can meet practical economic needs without reproducing the volatility that drives users to seek alternatives.

The trend: Crypto adoption in economically stressed Latin American markets is becoming more tied to everyday financial workarounds than to confidence in Bitcoin's price performance.

Discussion

@malekanoms Omid Malekan on x
Too much of the macro discussion around #crypto prices is Western-centric. Here's a good read on what's happening in LatAm, where the stakes are so much higher. https://twitter.com/...
@luciacholakian @luciacholakian on x
In Argentina, the fall of some cryptos doesn't seem to alter enthusiasts who believe that, in spite of the plummeting, it's still better than the peso. Our report on Latin America and crypto optimism with @andreapaolahg_ and @leomschwartz for @restofworld: https://restofworld.org…
@cengizyar Cengiz on x
The crypto crash is playing out differently in Latin America, where entrepreneurs and enthusiasts are accustomed to financial volatility. @leomschwartz @luciacholakian & @andreapaolahg_ explain for @restofworld. https://restofworld.org/... https://twitter.com/...
@leomschwartz Leo Schwartz on x
While cryptocurrencies have dropped 200% since Nov, the crash is playing out differently in Latin America, a region accustomed to financial calamity. Crypto offers a much-needed alternative, which makes it all the more dangerous. For @restofworld: https://restofworld.org/...
@lobaestrangeira Renata Rodrigues on x
“Other countries take these bear markets as a big tragedy,” said Carlos Mijares, a 25-year-old freelance graphic designer and crypto user from Caracas. “We see and live an economy from resilience.” Loved to see you here @LOReBitcoin ❤️ https://restofworld.org/...
@yinkawrites Yinka Adegoke on x
“I'd rather have a digital asset whose price goes up and down than a currency whose only real trend is down.” Bitcoin's story in economies like Argentina and Venezuela's is more complicated than in the West , finds @leomschwartz https://restofworld.org/...
@jason @jason on x
#cryptocontagion [ FTR: I think there are many great ideas in crypto/web3, but 95% of the projects are scams, run by incompetent people, and/or generally silly. This contagion/crash is going to be hard on many but will be good in the long run. Please be careful with your money ] …
@briannawu Brianna Wu on x
Good morning, another major crypto bank is halting withdrawals. This one is worth 2 billion. Banking is one of the most tightly regulated industries in America, and you'd go for jail for this if crypto weren't a fraud-for-all. https://babel.finance/...
@bigblackjacobin Edward Ongweso Jr on x
Great reporting here on the crypto crash hurting people actually using it as a hedge against inflation that i think lends itself to some good Qs to ask about crypto use cases that are concrete and genuine https://restofworld.org/...
@vickiturk Vicki Turk on x
“I would rather have a digital asset whose price goes up and down than a currency whose only real trend is down.” If you're feeling schadenfreude over the crypto crash, spare a thought for people in countries without a stable economy: https://restofworld.org/...
@leomschwartz Leo Schwartz on x
Earlier this week, as bitcoin hit an 18-month-low, I visited Mexico City's “Bitcoin Embassy” — a crypto-themed bar, not a diplomatic institution. Read my dispatch on how the crypto crash is affecting Latin America, w/ @luciacholakian and @andreapaolahg_: https://restofworld.org/.…
@cameron Cameron Winklevoss on x
Ok, bitcoin under 20k feels like an over-rotation. The underlying fundamentals, adoption, and infrastructure have never been stronger. We saw the irrational top. This feels irrational in the other direction.
@cryptohayes Arthur Hayes on x
#Bitcoin, are you okay? So, Bitcoin, are you okay? Are you okay, Bitcoin? You've been hit by- You've been struck by- The Central Banker https://twitter.com/...
@sbf_ftx @sbf_ftx on x
biggest things here aren't making sure no one ever goes under—it's making sure: 1) it's not to unsuspecting retail 2) risks properly disclosed 3) no contagion this basically means — it's one thing to have insto <> insto credit, but another to have deceptive credit vs retail https…
@ercwl Eric Wall on x
How do we as an industry—apart from staying clear from undercollateralized algostables—best ensure that a 3AC moment does not happen again?
@apompliano @apompliano on x
“Bitcoin's price sits at the lower bound of its production cost for the first time since the March 2020 liquidity crisis as well. The idea here is that Bitcoin should at minimum be worth the cost of energy to produce it.” - @WClementeIII https://twitter.com/...
@chhopsky @chhopsky on x
the “The Plan Was To Leave Someone Else Holding The Bag” crowd realizing they got left holding the bag https://twitter.com/...
@krisnova Kris Nóva on x
🍿 🔥 https://twitter.com/...
@100trillionusd @100trillionusd on x
And there it is: dark blue (70% below ATH)! Most indicators (S2F, RSI,200WMA, Realized etc) are at extreme levels. Does that mean that all indicators are “invalidated” “debunked”? No. Investing is a game of probabilities and indicators give situational awareness: BTC is oversold.…
@business @business on x
Total liquidations in the crypto market were $566.7 million in the past 24 hours https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@bigblackjacobin Edward Ongweso Jr on x
yeah fundamentals like *squints* stablecoins incentivizing adoption by offering high yield interest accounts paid for with speculative bets & gambles in other parts of the ecosystem or *squints again* the largest stablecoin lying for years about reserves pegging it to the dollar …
@tomgara Tom Gara on x
Counter-cyclical take: the question about how useful cryptocurrencies or blockchain tech will turn out to be wasn't answered when crypto prices were sky high and it doesn't get answered when crypto prices crash either
@kylebrussell Kyle Russell on x
Worsening as the day goes on https://twitter.com/...
@twobitidiot @twobitidiot on x
Bitcoin will be fine. Smart contracts will be fine. DEX will be fine. NFTs will be fine. DAOs will be fine. Lenders, shitty funds, charlatans, scammers, they're all going to die. Then we can get back to work and start the next cycle off a higher low.
@pr0blematicswag @pr0blematicswag on x
The whole point of crypto was supposed to be that it was free from regulation. Instead, Cryptobros who gambled everything on a volatile asset based entirely on speculation and harassed anyone that warned them about said volatility lost everything, for which I have zero sympathy. …
@bigtechalert @bigtechalert on x
👀 @brian_armstrong (CEO of @Coinbase) is no longer following @levie
@mrinaldesai @mrinaldesai on x
Sore of value? https://twitter.com/...
@grady_booch Grady Booch on x
IMHO, Cameron, anything over $0 feel irrational. https://twitter.com/...
@smdiehl Stephen Diehl on x
Crypto has no fundamentals, it has no income, and it generates nothing. It's a pure manifestation of the theory of the greater fool. https://twitter.com/...
@charlesarthur Charles Arthur on x
“What have you done to my reactor?” https://twitter.com/...
@levie Aaron Levie on x
The reason why it's important to look at web3 flaws in a down market is because the flaws don't seem as believable in an up market. In an upmarket if you buy a token and tell a friend to join a network, everyone's happy. In a down market, it's very hard for the network to spread.
@tomgara Tom Gara on x
One way to think about bitcoin is it's an Uber-esque mega unicorn startup that IPO'd in like 2017, everyone who was in before then are the early employees who made out like absolute bandits from their stock options, everyone since then are basically retail investors https://twitt…
@noahpinion @noahpinion on x
If you bought Bitcoin on December 15th, 2017, you are now in the red.
@charlesarthur Charles Arthur on x
Bitcoin enthusiasts seeing its price bumping down towards $18.5k, having dropped below $20k today. https://twitter.com/...
@thestalwart Joe Weisenthal on x
Bitcoin has fallen below its 2017 peak. First time in its history, its fallen beneath the peak of a previous halving cycle. Not that there's been any doubt, but the halving concept has been unambiguously debunked. No need to debate it anymore. https://www.bloomberg.com/... https:…
@asilbwrites @asilbwrites on x
my money don't jiggle jiggle, it drops below 20k https://twitter.com/...
@simonw Simon Willison on x
“These guys are just not very bright. But in a bubble, everyone looks like a genius.” https://twitter.com/...
@levie Aaron Levie on x
It's like mitosis for made up things https://twitter.com/...
@hblodget Henry Blodget on x
Bitcoin decline unusually smooth and steady. Seems like big sellers trying to reduce leverage/exposure gradually, so as not to completely crush the price. Of course, there are buyers on the other side of all those trades... https://markets.businessinsider.com/ ... https://twitter…
@kylebrussell Kyle Russell on x
Ethereum back to trading in the triple digits
@peterschiff Peter Schiff on x
Now that #Bitcoin has collapsed below $20K and #Ethereum below $1K, at least one person on @CNBC should apologize to their viewers for all the one-sided coverage and bad investment advice. As Bitcoin plunged 73% and Ethereum 83%, CNBC pumped #crypto non-stop the entire way down.
@allnick @allnick on x
ETH < $1000 Think I'll sleep in thank you!
@chhopsky @chhopsky on x
absolutely incredible seeing the people who blew up their lives and credibility to leave tech or games for crypto now starting to scrub it from the internet, leaving a wasteland of deleted tweets and resume gaps on linkedin
@poorlyagedstuff @poorlyagedstuff on x
cryptocurrency
@crypto_birb @crypto_birb on x
Shoutout to every person, trader, project, and firm who are not giving up on crypto. Many will likely find themselves in revulsion, and complete resignation in the next weeks. However, the patient investors or contrarians may consider these prices once-in-a-lifetime gift #Bitcoin…
@wifeyalpha @wifeyalpha on x
I have no remorse for Saylor! He gave advice to people that have little to no financial markets / finance experience and told them to sell their family home and/or business to buy bitcoin at the top of the bull market. This is account could not be more the inverse. Family first.
@ashwsbreal @ashwsbreal on x
Don't worry guys only 750 days left for next bitcoin halving. We will pump hard 🚀
@btc_archive @btc_archive on x
#Bitcoin just dropped below the previous cycle high for the first time ever!
@bbtc @bbtc on x
#Bitcoin Price: $19,500 📉 https://twitter.com/...
@bitcoinmagazine @bitcoinmagazine on x
#Bitcoin has been declared dead over 400 times https://twitter.com/...
@spectatorindex @spectatorindex on x
Bitcoin price 18th November, 2021: $60,400 Now: $19,200
@gainzxbt @gainzxbt on x
very cool finding out crypto is a casino where institutions are levered to the tits 👍
@awice Alex Wice on x
mental math with $btc will be a lot easier when its 10k
@chubbicorn219 @chubbicorn219 on x
$0 $0
@cobie @cobie on x
Things got really bad after Vitalik made airplane sounds on our podcast
@grady_booch Grady Booch on x
Burn it to the ground and fling its ashes into the center of the sun. https://twitter.com/...
@tommackenzietv Tom Mackenzie on x
Bitcoin Falls Below $20,000 for the First Time Since 2020 - bitcoin has fallen for 12-straight days - total crypto market cap now around $880B vs $3 trillion in Nov https://www.bloomberg.com/... #btc
@gossithedog Kevin Beaumont on x
https://twitter.com/...
@loopifyyy @loopifyyy on x
1,000 ETH for $1M sounds cheap
@liron Liron Shapira on x
BTC has now fallen below the *previous* cycle's peak of $19,783 on Dec 18, 2017. Unwinding back a whole cycle has never happened before.
@nope_its_lily Lily on x
No one who has held bitcoin for 4.35683382 years or longer has lost money.
@fintechfrank Frank Chaparro on x
If you bought Bitcoin at the top of the 2017 bull market you're down on your investment about 2.7%
@nope_its_lily Lily on x
At least we all learned valuable marketable skills taught by crypto trading in the 2020-2021 era that should easily transfer to other jobs like shitposting, combing chat groups, waiting in virtual lines to buy pictures, & giving lots of money to sketchy websites to win lottos.
@emilyjnicolle Emily Nicolle on x
crypto amirite https://twitter.com/...
@davidgerard @davidgerard on x
I bring good news for bitcoin https://twitter.com/...
@mspro Michael Seemann on x
lol https://twitter.com/...
@lawmaster @lawmaster on x
🫡
@route2fi @route2fi on x
Waking up to 3 digits $ETH and $BTC at $18K. The worst part about this is how many people will leave the space now, and never come back. “I knew crypto always was a scam”.
@ashwsbreal @ashwsbreal on x
Just bought so much #BTC at $18,900 and #ETH at $980
@wublockchain Wu Blockchain on x
In the last hour, Bitcoin fell to a minimum of $19,200, Ethereum fell below $1,000, and the total market value fell below $900 billion. The Nasdaq is down 5% in the latest month, but Bitcoin is down 34%. The liquidity crisis caused by the lending institutions has caused panic.
@twobitidiot @twobitidiot on x
🤮
@alexhern @alexhern on x
Is that good https://twitter.com/...
@charlesarthur Charles Arthur on x
Uh-oh. That is the tide going RIGHT out. I had the feeling that $20k was a sort of resistance price for Bitcoin - that there were lots of automated orders to buy if it hit that price, supporting it. If those are used up, we enter new (margin call) territory. https://twitter.com/.…
@liron Liron Shapira on x
Boom goes the dynamite https://twitter.com/...
@nycsouthpaw @nycsouthpaw on x
A crypto bank that named itself after the Tower of Babel is halting withdrawals. https://babel.finance/... https://twitter.com/...
@mattzeitlin Matthew Zeitlin on x
Gotta imagine these guys are a lot smarter than me but getting caught off guard by crypto being all being correlated with each other? https://www.wsj.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@laurashin Laura Shin on x
WSJ talked with 3AC: “We have always been believers in crypto and we still are,” Kyle Davies, Three Arrows's co-founder, said in an interview. “We are committed to working things out and finding an equitable solution for all our constituent.” https://www.wsj.com/...
@anthony Anthony DeRosa on x
WSJ EXCLUSIVE: Crypto hedge fund Three Arrows has huge losses and is now considering asset sales or a bailout https://www.wsj.com/...
@ceostroff Caitlin Ostroff on x
Crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital has hired legal and financial advisers to help work out a solution for its investors and lenders, after suffering heavy losses from a broad market selloff in digital assets, the firm's founders said. via @SerenaNgWSJ https://www.wsj.com/...

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