Argentinian Banking Heavyweight to Launch Bitcoin, Ethereum Trading, While Tax Body Urges Tighter Crypto Monitoring
One of the largest private financial entities in Argentina, Banco Galicia, has announced that it will allow some of its customers to trade, sell, and hold cryptoassets at a time when Argentina’s tax body has called for Latin American governments to bolster their crypto monitoring capabilities.
The bank will allow some of its clients to access services that involve bitcoin (BTC), ethereum (ETH), and XRP, as well as the USD coin (USDC) stablecoin, the news agency EFE reported, adding that the move would represent a first for the nation’s banking sector.
In a statement, the bank stated that “due to high demand from its clients,” it was moving to allow “the purchase, sale and custody” of crypto, and has not “ruled out expanding” the range of cryptoassets it handles.
However, not everyone with a Banco Galicia account will be allowed to access the new services. Would-be crypto traders will need to have a “transactional profile” that is “validated” by the bank – and must prove they have a stable form of income (in the form of a month's salary or equivalent).
Banco Galicia’s Investment Products Manager Ariel Sánchez was quoted as stating:
“We carried out a survey of our clients and more than 60% want to incorporate these assets into their investment portfolio. The youngest customers were the group that demanded them the most.”
The bank added that crypto “volatility” meant that only those with a non-risk-adverse investment profile should consider using these services, with conservative investors urged to “consider whether [crypto] is a suitable asset for them.”
Crypto adoption has shot up in the nation in recent months, with hyperinflation driving many away from the fiat peso. Caps placed on USD buying led many to purchase USD-pegged
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