Argentina Prepares Major Shift Allowing Banks to Offer Crypto Services by 2026

Source: ETHNews Original Title: Argentina Prepares Major Shift Allowing Banks to Offer Crypto Services by 2026 Original Link:

Argentina is preparing one of its most significant financial reforms in years, as the central bank works on new rules that would allow traditional banks to offer cryptocurrency trading and custody services.

The framework is expected to take effect around April 2026 and would reverse the country’s long-standing restrictions on institutional participation in digital assets. The shift reflects President Javier Milei’s pro-market philosophy and acknowledges how deeply crypto has become embedded in the daily financial life of Argentines coping with extreme inflation.

A Turning Point for Argentina’s Banking System

The central bank’s plan would overturn a ban imposed in May 2022, when the Banco Central de la República Argentina prohibited banks from facilitating cryptocurrency transactions.

The new approach aims to bring Argentina’s massive informal crypto economy under regulated supervision, giving banks the ability to provide secure and compliant digital-asset services. The proposal currently limits banks to a narrow group of “blue-chip” assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, USDT, and XRP, in an effort to maintain stability during the initial rollout.

Financial institutions would be required to operate their crypto divisions through legally separate units that meet stricter capital, security, and liquidity requirements. These operations would fall under the oversight of the National Securities Commission, which already supervises other virtual-asset providers. The framework is designed to ensure that KYC and AML standards remain exceptionally strict as the sector shifts from informal platforms into the formal banking system.

Hyperinflation Pushes Crypto Toward the Mainstream

Argentina’s rapid embrace of digital assets has been shaped by its severe economic conditions. Persistent hyperinflation, which escalated to 1,427% in 2023, pushed millions of citizens to search for preservation tools outside traditional financial channels. By August 2025, nearly one in five Argentines held some form of cryptocurrency, making the country one of the world’s most active markets for digital assets.

The upcoming reforms aim to provide safer options for users who currently depend on peer-to-peer markets and unregulated exchanges. By integrating crypto into established banking platforms, regulators hope to improve consumer protection and strengthen the government’s ability to track taxable activity. The move is also expected to accelerate mainstream adoption, especially through major banks such as BBVA Argentina, Banco Macro, Grupo Financiero Galicia, and Grupo Supervielle.

A New Era for Crypto Integration

If fully approved, the framework would mark a major evolution in how Argentina integrates digital assets into its broader financial system. The decision signals a shift from restrictive oversight toward a regulated but open environment where crypto operates alongside traditional banking services. With preparation already underway, the coming months will determine how quickly Argentina can move from planning to execution, and how profoundly these changes reshape its financial landscape.