Emre Yumlu 
As Bolivia faces a deepening economic crisis, stablecoins like USDT are starting to surface in unexpected places — including airport shops. Recent photos reveal that certain products in Bolivian duty-free stores are now being priced directly in Tether (USDT), signaling a shift in how value is being measured in the country.
Tether on the Shelf
Images from a Bolivian airport shop show a range of goods — from sunglasses to snacks — tagged with prices in USDT. But this isn’t just a gimmick. A notice displayed in the store explains:
“Our product prices are set in USDT (Tether), a stable cryptocurrency. The exchange rate is updated daily based on figures from the Central Bank of Bolivia and Binance.”
While customers can still pay in Bolivianos or U.S. dollars, USDT serves as the reference point for pricing — highlighting its emerging role as a de facto exchange anchor rather than a direct payment method.
A Growing Shift Toward Crypto
The store in question serves international travelers in a duty-free setting, but the presence of USDT is part of a broader trend. While the scale of adoption remains unclear, local developments suggest rising interest in digital assets.
In late 2024, Bolivia’s major bank Banco Bisa began offering USDT custody services, allowing customers to buy, sell, and transfer the asset directly through the institution. This move marked a significant step toward mainstream crypto integration in Bolivia.
Collapsing Economy Spurs Digital Alternatives
Bolivia’s economy has been spiraling downward for years. Foreign currency reserves, once at $15 billion in 2014, had plummeted to just $1.98 billion by the end of 2024 — and less than $50 million of that is liquid cash. The remainder is held in gold.
The local currency, Boliviano, continues to lose value, pushing citizens toward the black market for U.S. dollars, where rates hover around 10 Bolivianos per dollar — well above the official rate of 7.
Despite spending $56 million weekly on fuel imports, Bolivia is still grappling with shortages. Inflation soared to 14.6% as of March 2025, further eroding the population’s purchasing power.
In one telling example, a simple pack of Oreos was seen priced between 15 and 22 USDT, underscoring how Bolivians are turning to digital assets as both a hedge and a benchmark amid a rapidly deteriorating economy.
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