When you hear Cuba digital currency, a state-controlled digital payment system launched by the Central Bank of Cuba to replace cash in daily transactions. Also known as digital peso, it is designed to streamline government payments, reduce reliance on physical cash, and track economic activity more tightly. But behind the official rollout, something else is happening: Cubans are quietly turning to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to protect their savings from inflation, sanctions, and a broken banking system.
The digital peso, Cuba’s official central bank digital currency (CBDC). Also known as Moneda Digital Cubana, it is not a decentralized coin like Bitcoin—it’s a government-controlled ledger that tracks every transaction made through the government’s ETECSA mobile app. You can use it to pay for utilities, groceries, and public services, but you can’t buy foreign goods with it. That’s where cryptocurrency, decentralized digital assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum that operate outside state control. Also known as crypto, it has become a lifeline for Cubans who need to send money abroad, access international markets, or store value comes in. While the government bans private crypto exchanges and cracks down on mining, people still use peer-to-peer platforms like Paxful and LocalBitcoins to trade Bitcoin for USD or EUR. This isn’t rebellion—it’s adaptation.
Why does this matter? Because Cuba’s economy is squeezed from all sides: U.S. sanctions limit imports, the peso has lost over 90% of its value since 2021, and state salaries can’t keep up with prices. The digital peso gives the government more control, but it doesn’t fix the root problem—lack of real economic freedom. Meanwhile, crypto gives Cubans a way out, even if it’s risky. You won’t find official crypto exchanges in Havana, but you’ll find people trading in parks, cafes, and WhatsApp groups. This isn’t a trend—it’s a survival strategy.
What you’ll find below are real stories and deep dives into how Cuba’s digital currency policy shapes daily life, how crypto bypasses state controls, and what happens when a government tries to monopolize money while its people look for alternatives. These aren’t theoretical guides—they’re reports from the front lines of economic resistance.
Cuba doesn't ban cryptocurrency - it regulates it. Learn how Bitcoin and other digital currencies became legal payment tools for Cubans facing U.S. sanctions, and how the government turned survival into policy.