# Latin America Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Latin America", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

Wintermute Ventures: Return to Fundamentals, Cognitive Reset After Attending Hong Kong Consensus

Wintermute Ventures attended Hong Kong Consensus and observed a clear shift toward cautious market sentiment, with few confident about the next major crypto trend. Key takeaways include: a lack of near-term catalysts, capital rotation into AI stocks (especially in Asia), and an identity crisis for altcoins beyond major assets—tokens are no longer seen as reliable value-accrual mechanisms. Opportunities are shifting toward fundamentals: revenue-generating, licensed businesses with defensive moats. Latin America emerged as a region with strong product-market fit and regulatory progress. Despite the cooling mood, the reset is seen as healthy, pushing founders toward real users and sustainable design.

marsbit02/18 08:56

Wintermute Ventures: Return to Fundamentals, Cognitive Reset After Attending Hong Kong Consensus

marsbit02/18 08:56

Colombia Pension Giant Takes First Step Into Bitcoin – Details

Colombia's second-largest private pension fund, AFP Protección, is launching a new product allowing qualified savers to gain exposure to Bitcoin. The offering is limited to investors who meet specific risk profiles and complete a tailored advisory process. It is designed as a long-term diversification tool, not for short-term speculation, and will be a small, optional addition to core portfolios focused on traditional assets. With around $55 billion in assets under management, the firm emphasizes the product is measured and compliant with Colombia’s tightening crypto regulations. This move aligns with a broader regional trend of institutional crypto experimentation in Latin America.

bitcoinist01/26 11:32

Colombia Pension Giant Takes First Step Into Bitcoin – Details

bitcoinist01/26 11:32

Revolut Seeks Full Banking Licence in Peru to Expand Latin America Push

Revolut has applied for a full banking license in Peru to expand its Latin American operations. If approved, the UK-based digital bank will operate as a fully regulated lender, offering localized banking products and competing directly with established banks. Peru's financial system is highly concentrated, with the top four banks holding 82% of all loans. Revolut sees an opportunity to increase competition and improve access, particularly for underserved users. Remittances are a key focus, as one million Peruvians rely on money sent from abroad. The move is part of Revolut's broader strategy, which has seen strong growth in crypto services and record profits in 2024.

TheNewsCrypto01/20 11:13

Revolut Seeks Full Banking Licence in Peru to Expand Latin America Push

TheNewsCrypto01/20 11:13

Alibaba Invested in a Latin American Stablecoin Company, Why VelaFi?

VelaFi, a financial infrastructure platform focused on Latin America and bridging fiat and crypto, has raised $20 million in a Series B round, bringing its total funding to over $40 million. Notably, the investment round included participation from Alibaba Investment, a subsidiary of Alibaba Group. Alibaba's investment is strategic, as VelaFi's stablecoin-based infrastructure enables instant, low-cost cross-border settlements. This addresses key pain points of high fees and slow processing times, aligning with Alibaba's goals for its AliExpress and B2B platforms in emerging markets. The funding was co-led by XVC and Ikuyo, with participation from other firms. VelaFi, part of Galactic Holdings and led by CEO Maggie Wu, was formerly known as TruBit Business. It has expanded from Latin America into the U.S. and Asia, serving hundreds of enterprise clients and processing billions in transaction volume. VelaFi's core B2B model focuses on two main services: providing regulated on/off ramps for converting between local fiat and stablecoins, and facilitating cross-border payments by converting one local currency directly into another (e.g., Mexican Pesos to Brazilian Reals). It achieves this by integrating with local instant payment systems like Mexico's SPEI and Brazil's PIX, using stablecoins as a settlement layer to create a faster, more efficient alternative to traditional banking channels.

marsbit01/14 10:40

Alibaba Invested in a Latin American Stablecoin Company, Why VelaFi?

marsbit01/14 10:40

Colombia Tightens Crypto Tax Reporting as New OECD-Aligned Rules Take Effect

Colombia's tax authority (DIAN) has implemented new regulations requiring crypto exchanges, brokers, and intermediaries to collect and report detailed user data. The rules, issued under Resolution 000240, apply to transactions starting in 2026, with the first reports due by May 2027. Both domestic and foreign platforms serving Colombian residents must comply. The mandated information includes user identities, transaction volumes, values, and net crypto balances. The policy shifts responsibility from user self-reporting to mandatory platform reporting, aligning with the OECD's Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework. Its primary goals are to combat tax evasion and increase transparency by treating crypto assets similarly to traditional financial instruments. Non-compliant platforms face fines of up to 1% of the undeclared transaction value, marking a significant reduction in crypto privacy within the country.

TheNewsCrypto01/09 15:44

Colombia Tightens Crypto Tax Reporting as New OECD-Aligned Rules Take Effect

TheNewsCrypto01/09 15:44

GOAT Network and DitoBanx Launch Bitcoin Self-Custody Yield Pilot in Mexico, Reaching Over 100,000 Users

GOAT Network has partnered with Latin American fintech platform DitoBanx to launch a pilot program for Bitcoin self-custody yield in Mexico, reaching over 100,000 users. The initiative introduces GOAT's white-label product, Safebox, within DitoBanx's regulated mobile app. This non-custodial solution allows users to earn Bitcoin-denominated yields without transferring asset custody or participating in lending schemes. Unlike traditional yield models that rely on centralized custody or credit-based mechanisms, Safebox offers principal protection and is powered by GOAT Network’s decentralized sequencer rewards. Users retain full control of their Bitcoin private keys while earning a 1.5% annualized yield over a three-month pilot period. The collaboration combines DitoBanx’s regulated onboarding, fiat rails, and user-friendly interface with a structurally distinct yield mechanism, reducing counterparty risk. The pilot aims to enhance Bitcoin-based financial accessibility in Latin America and may expand to other markets where DitoBanx operates. This model represents a potential evolution for Bitcoin savings products, balancing regulatory compliance with self-sovereign asset control.

marsbit01/06 01:57

GOAT Network and DitoBanx Launch Bitcoin Self-Custody Yield Pilot in Mexico, Reaching Over 100,000 Users

marsbit01/06 01:57

The Evolution of Latin America's Stablecoin Market: From Survival to Growth

Latin America's stablecoin market is evolving from a survival tool into a growth engine, driven by hyperinflation, financial exclusion, and inefficient remittances. With Argentina's 178% inflation and Brazil's $300B crypto trading volume, stablecoins like USDT and USDC are becoming essential for value storage and daily transactions. The region is witnessing the rise of Crypto Neobanks, which leverage zero-fee networks (e.g., Tether’s Plasma) and DeFi yields to offer dollar-based accounts with higher returns, challenging traditional fintech giants like Nubank. Brazil leads in institutional adoption, with 90% of crypto flows in stablecoins, while Argentina shows retail-driven growth. Key trends include the emergence of local currency-pegged stablecoins, integration of yield-bearing assets, and regulatory divergence across countries. The market, valued at $1.5T in trading volume, presents a significant alpha opportunity, with Crypto Neobanks poised to capture market share by offering faster settlements, dollar-denominated accounts, and superior yields. The window for investment and innovation is narrow, with the next 12-18 months critical for dominance.

marsbit12/11 22:40

The Evolution of Latin America's Stablecoin Market: From Survival to Growth

marsbit12/11 22:40

Didi in Latin America: Already a Digital Banking Giant

Didi, known in China primarily as a ride-hailing giant, has transformed into a digital banking powerhouse in Latin America, serving over 25 million users. While its financial ambitions were stifled in China by the dominance of Alipay and WeChat Pay—which left little room for competitors—Didi found fertile ground in Latin America’s underbanked markets. Facing a cash-dominated economy and low banking penetration, Didi built its own financial infrastructure from scratch. It partnered with OXXO, a ubiquitous convenience store chain in Mexico, to allow cash top-ups via its DiDi Pay system—effectively creating an alternative banking network. This move not only improved transaction efficiency but also addressed critical safety issues, as drivers carrying cash were often targets of robbery. Leveraging its vast data on driver and passenger behavior, Didi developed a unique "behavioral credit" system, enabling it to offer loans to individuals with no formal banking history. Products like DiDi Préstamos and high-yield savings accounts (DiDi Cuenta) helped capture and retain user funds, turning Didi into a central financial hub. Beyond finance, Didi now facilitates broader economic activities: it supports e-commerce partnerships (like AliExpress’ "buy now, pay later" service) and accelerates the adoption of Chinese electric vehicles by providing auto loans to drivers. This evolution from ride-hailing to integrated fintech and industrial enabler highlights Didi’s adaptability and the success of its "infrastructure-first" strategy in emerging markets. The company’s journey in Latin America underscores a broader lesson for Chinese tech firms expanding abroad: success requires not just exporting technology, but rebuilding the foundational systems that make it relevant—especially in regions where basic services are lacking. Didi’s growth in the region reflects a return to the gritty, ground-up innovation that once defined China’s internet boom.

marsbit12/10 12:08

Didi in Latin America: Already a Digital Banking Giant