Many people come to Bitcoin looking for a way to improve their financial situation. If you've ever worked tirelessly just to cover rent and bills, with little or nothing left to save, you probably know that feeling of uncertainty about the future, both yours and your loved ones.
In a country like Argentina, where the economy is a constant rollercoaster and the currency loses value daily, the search for alternatives becomes urgent. Here, saving is a daily battle. Every extra peso usually goes straight into dollars, the ultimate safe-haven currency, because it's the only way most people know to protect the little they manage to save.
The idea of trying something new and risky like Bitcoin might not seem as appealing to someone living in northern countries or Europe, but for those of us facing economic instability, exploring solutions outside the traditional system feels more like a necessity than a choice.
To better illustrate how the loss of purchasing power affects Argentinians, I thought of comparing it to one of the country's most popular consumer goods: yerba mate. Most Argentinians consume it daily, at breakfast, during breaks, while working or studying, and when gathering with friends. It’s deeply ingrained in daily culture.
My idea is to compare the purchasing power of the Argentine peso, the US dollar (our go-to savings currency) and Bitcoin, to highlight the extent of the peso’s depreciation against other currencies and the challenge of saving and planning long-term. I'll use data from 2020 onward, referencing exchange rates and official statistics from INDEC.
The goal is to show how many goods, in this case, yerba mate, could be purchased with pesos, dollars, or Bitcoin to assess the scale of the peso’s devaluation and understand why, for Argentinians, Bitcoin is such a strong savings option.
Let's assume that in 2020, someone had 10,000 pesos. If they saved it in pesos, dollars, or Bitcoin, how many kilos of yerba could they buy today?
The difference is shocking: the 10,000 pesos that could buy 47 packs of yerba in 2020 now barely cover 2 kilos if kept in cash. In contrast, an investment in Bitcoin would allow you to buy over 450 kg. Saving in dollars would have helped preserve purchasing power, though with a slight decrease in buying capacity.
It’s clear how purchasing power practically vanishes in just four years, even considering that Bitcoin’s performance in recent years hasn’t been as exponential.
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My goal is to illustrate, in the simplest way possible, the daily struggles Argentinians face and how, because of this reality, we are often forced to take financial risks.
Bitcoin arrived as a promise of financial freedom, allowing transactions without intermediaries, giving full control over personal funds, and enabling transfers anytime, without banking hours or third-party approvals. That sense of autonomy, of having complete control, is something no bank or government can offer. And although many cryptocurrencies have since emerged with more advanced features, Bitcoin remains the most reliable pioneer, because it has no central authority controlling it. It is truly decentralized. It is free.
It’s no coincidence that Argentina is one of the countries with the highest crypto adoption. According to data from the Blockchain Foundation Argentina, around 8.6 million Argentinians (nearly 19% of the population) use some form of cryptocurrency, ranking the country fourth worldwide and first in the region.
In terms of preferences, Bitso reports that Bitcoin accounts for 50% of crypto portfolios, followed by stablecoins like USDC and USDT at 22%, and Ethereum at 13%. The tendency to hold stablecoins is likely driven by their role as a unit of measure and a short- to medium-term hedge against currency instability, similar to how Argentinians use the dollar, while Bitcoin is seen more as a long-term investment or a retirement asset.
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Why does this happen? Because we are used to adapting, to finding creative solutions amid chaos. That same ability to do a lot with very little has allowed us to stand out in the crypto ecosystem, with innovative projects and Argentine talent spread across global teams.
All of this makes me think we have a unique opportunity to lead this paradigm shift. If the future of finance is decentralized and sovereign, we already have experience navigating restrictions, optimizing resources, and finding alternative ways to thrive.
Personally, Bitcoin didn’t just introduce me to a world of learning and new career opportunities, it also led me to meet brilliant people who inspire me to keep exploring, even though I still feel like I have so much more to learn. But instead of discouraging me, that motivates me even more.
That’s why I decided to start writing, not from a place of expertise, but as someone who is still discovering, exploring products, consuming news, studying, and eager to keep growing in the space.
If you’re reading this, thanks for giving me a bit of your time ✨.