$Mira, to understand Venezuela today (January 2026), you have to see it as a digital survival struggle. It's tough: the country is living a dual economic reality where the official dollar and the "crypto dollar" (USDT) have a huge gap. While the official one tries to hold on, USDT on the street has already doubled that value. For Venezuelans, cryptocurrencies aren't a luxury or a risky investment—they're the life jacket so their salary doesn't vanish.

The global impact: The world's laboratory

Venezuela has become the "guinea pig" of digital finance. The entire world is watching because here it was proven that stablecoins (coins worth $1) can replace banks when the traditional system fails. This massive adoption out of necessity has forced other countries and international organizations to accelerate their crypto regulations, either to copy what works or to impose stricter controls out of fear of sanction evasion.

The Kontigo case: From glory to a halt

The Kontigo app is the perfect example of how difficult it is to be a fintech here:

The blow from U.S. accounts: At the end of 2025, their overseas banking partner cut off their service due to fears over sanctions. Overnight, people could no longer move money into the U.S. financial system, which was their biggest attraction.

The reinvention: To survive, they launched crypto microloans and their own card to pay at local merchants using digital balances. They're trying to fill the void left by traditional banking.

Current reality: Still operational, but trust has been damaged. There are many complaints about funds being held and support not keeping up, while other users remain loyal because it's one of the few remaining "legal" options.

In summary: Venezuela remains the crypto epicenter purely out of necessity, and even though apps like Kontigo face external blockades, people keep using digital assets because, simply put, they don't have a better alternative.