Argentina’s financial system may be facing one of the most profound changes in years. And the Central Bank of the Republic of Argentina (BCRA) will consider allowing traditional banks to offer the purchase, sale and custody of cryptocurrencies.
Although there has been no official announcement yet, a cryptocurrency exchange interviewed by local media said the following: Approval could be completed in April 2026. This gives banks enough time to adapt their systems and enter into the necessary business alliances.
In Argentina, banking institutions’ interest in offering virtual currencies is not new. In 2022, Galicia, Burbank and Huara launched services to buy and sell digital assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), but their tests lasted only three days.
As reported by CriptoNoticias, Later, the BCRA intervened and banned all operations related to crypto assets. within the formal financial system. Starting in 2024, only exchanges registered as Virtual Asset Service Providers (PSAV) will be able to offer cryptocurrencies in Argentina.
Carlos Peralta, head of communications for the Bitso cryptocurrency platform, told reporters that if the ban ultimately goes ahead, banks will have two options: develop the necessary infrastructure in-house or partner with already registered exchanges such as PSAV.
Bitso’s manager added: For integration to be truly effective, the current tax system needs to be reviewed.. In particular, he spoke about the check tax, which today directly impacts PSAVs while financial institutions such as banks are exempt.
Although this discussion is independent of the authorization analyzed by BCRA, Lemon Cryptocurrency Exchange believes that both changes should proceed together to ensure a level playing field within the financial system.
