Post
Topic
Board Bitcoin Discussion
Re: Venezuela and Bitcoin.
by
Piper67
on 02/07/2012, 14:46:05 UTC
Sadly there isn't any similar system to the Boleto Bancario in place here. I'd say the only valid methods would be bank deposits, transfers, cash and possibly some sort of payment service via SMS or calls such as Dialcoin offers. Opening an organized exchange here could be an extremely profitable venture, there is a sizeable segment of the population that already turns to online currency exchangers to fund their online purchases, send money overseas, etc. so that's a huge pool of potential users right there.

Pardon me for perhaps being naive... but doesn't Venezuela border Brazil? Would it not be possible to set up a network using BitInstant's Boleto system in a Brazil town on one side of the border, and an exchange in Venezuela on the other side of the border?

Then sell Bitcoins for bolivar in Venezuela, then exchange bolivar for reals in Venezuela or Brazil, then deposit those in Brazil via BitInstant/Boleto to buy more Bitcoins.

I believe Argentina borders Brazil also right? And aren't they also having a bit of a currency crisis? Implement the same system there Smiley

Not sure this would be feasible in the long run. The borders between the countries are somewhat porous, but you're introducing an unknown variable if the whole thing is dependent on someone physically moving back and forth across the border to get the local currency out and BTC in.

A local, face to face bitcoin exchange like localbitcoins.com seems a lot better, IMO. This is especially true in the case of Argentina, where there are now limits to how many USD you can buy, and there are controls on the exchange rate between the USD and the peso. There's a lot of money to be made by anyone who would take physical pesos in exchange for BTC through a local, decentralised exchange. There aren't any laws concerning BTC yet in either country, nor are they likely to be forthcoming in the near future. And for Argentines and Venezuelans, particularly for those who wish to travel abroad and aren't allowed to leave the country with more than a fixed amount of USD, this would be a boon.

Would be good for Bitcoin as well.