There's an interesting phenomenon worth discussing. Since 2020, Venezuela has been using USDT extensively for settlement transactions in order to maintain oil trade under international sanctions — in other words, stablecoins have become a tool for circumvention.
Why is this happening? There are mainly two reasons. On one hand, direct USD settlement has been restricted; on the other hand, the long-term devaluation of the local currency combined with capital controls has made USDT a more stable choice. This is not an isolated case — in economies with high inflation and currency depreciation, stablecoins are playing an increasingly important role.
From the perspective of the crypto market, this reflects a larger trend: stablecoins are not just trading tools; they are gradually evolving into an alternative settlement method amid global financial friction. In areas where traditional financial systems are limited, the flexibility of on-chain assets becomes evident. This also explains why demand for such currencies remains strong in emerging markets.
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TokenStorm
· 9h ago
On-chain data indeed has arbitrage opportunities; the case in Venezuela is a complete example of being forced to choose in a financial crisis.
Stablecoins are the most resilient in a storm, but holding them long-term really tests your mental fortitude.
Recalling last year's data backtest, the inflow of USDT into emerging markets indeed skyrocketed, but what happened afterward? That’s the key risk factor.
It's nice to call it alternative settlement, but frankly, it's just using crypto to patch up the flaws of a broken system.
However, precisely because of this, USDT is so valuable. We small players might as well join in and share some of the soup.
The real opportunities are in on-chain data; those who understand how to read it have long been watching.
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BanklessAtHeart
· 01-12 16:13
USDT has become Venezuela's lifeline, this is the reality... The traditional financial system really needs to reflect on itself.
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ShamedApeSeller
· 01-11 12:26
Venezuela's move has really made USDT a necessity.
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DAOdreamer
· 01-11 12:19
This is the true battlefield of Web3; the places where traditional finance is stuck are exactly our opportunities.
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OnchainHolmes
· 01-11 12:16
This is the true battlefield for stablecoins—it's not speculation, but a genuine necessity.
There's an interesting phenomenon worth discussing. Since 2020, Venezuela has been using USDT extensively for settlement transactions in order to maintain oil trade under international sanctions — in other words, stablecoins have become a tool for circumvention.
Why is this happening? There are mainly two reasons. On one hand, direct USD settlement has been restricted; on the other hand, the long-term devaluation of the local currency combined with capital controls has made USDT a more stable choice. This is not an isolated case — in economies with high inflation and currency depreciation, stablecoins are playing an increasingly important role.
From the perspective of the crypto market, this reflects a larger trend: stablecoins are not just trading tools; they are gradually evolving into an alternative settlement method amid global financial friction. In areas where traditional financial systems are limited, the flexibility of on-chain assets becomes evident. This also explains why demand for such currencies remains strong in emerging markets.