USDT Emerges as Bolivian Businesses’ Lifeline Amid Hyperinflation Surge

In the face of Bolivia's escalating inflation crisis, small businesses are turning to cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Tether (USDT) as a financial safe haven. With the boliviano losing half its black market value and crypto transactions skyrocketing by 530% year-over-year to $294 million in H1 2025, USDT's stability is proving critical for local commerce. This shift underscores crypto's growing role as a hedge against economic instability in emerging markets.

Bolivian Small Businesses Turn to Crypto Amid Inflation Crisis

Bolivian small businesses are rapidly adopting cryptocurrency as a hedge against hyperinflation and currency devaluation. Restaurants, beauty salons, and local merchants now increasingly accept Bitcoin (BTC) and Tether (USDT) as trust in the boliviano collapses.

Crypto transactions surged 530% year-over-year, reaching $294 million in H1 2025 according to central bank data. The boliviano has lost half its black market value while dollar reserves evaporate, forcing citizens to seek alternatives.

"Daily USDT volumes may exceed $600,000," notes former central bank chief Jose Gabriel Espinoza. Though still dwarfed by the $12-14 million cash black market, crypto adoption accelerates as fuel shortages and 40-year high inflation ravage the economy.

BNB Chain Surpasses $10B in Stablecoins, Extends No-Gas Transfer Campaign

BNB Chain has solidified its dominance in the stablecoin market, recording over $10 billion in stablecoin volume while maintaining the highest active user count among blockchain networks in May and June 2025. The achievement follows the extension of its Gas-Free Carnival initiative, now covering USDT and USD1 transfers until July 31, 2025.

More than $4 million in gas fees have been waived since the program's September 2024 launch, significantly lowering barriers to DeFi participation and cross-chain transactions. Market analysts interpret the streamlined focus on USDT and USD1 as a strategic MOVE to optimize ecosystem efficiency.

Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao publicly endorsed the network's performance metrics, which were independently verified by Markets Insider. The data underscores BNB Chain's growing influence in shaping stablecoin liquidity and accessibility standards across the cryptocurrency landscape.

Ripple Expands Stablecoin Footprint with 12M RLUSD Minted on Ethereum

Ripple has entered the competitive stablecoin arena with the minting of 12 million RLUSD tokens on Ethereum. The move, tracked by on-chain observers, signals the company's strategic pivot toward capturing market share in the $252 billion stablecoin sector—a space dominated by Tether and Circle.

The RLUSD Treasury's Ethereum-based issuance coincides with record stablecoin adoption, reflecting a 20x supply growth since 2019. While Tether maintains a 62.5% market stranglehold, Ripple's treasury-backed approach could disrupt the yield-generating models pioneered by incumbents.