A recent report states that freelancing is experiencing a boom in Argentina, and also comments on how Argentinians are among workers in the region that most actively use cryptocurrencies to receive part of their paycheck. The report further states that workers accepting their paychecks in crypto favor traditional cryptocurrencies such as ether and bitcoin, which together amount to almost 90% of the payments made in crypto.
Freelancing and Crypto Becoming More Popular in Argentina
Freelancing seems to be experiencing a boom in Argentina, and with it, crypto, as a way of collecting payments outside of the traditional financial system. A report titled “State of Global Hiring 2021,” made by Deel, a global hiring firm, has discovered that Argentinians, and Latam in general, are increasingly focusing on international companies and jobs. The report explains this is likely a result of the decline of local economies and jobs due to the after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, companies are hiring more Argentinians than ever before. This has created an increase in the wages of Argentinians in the last six months, who are earning 21% more working in the marketing, products, and sales sector.
Cryptocurrency withdrawals of these salaries have also boomed. Regarding this trend, Deel COO Dan Westgarth stated:
We are seeing an increase in cryptocurrency withdrawals, in countries like Argentina. We currently offer withdrawals in BTC -the most popular in Latin America-, ETH, USDC and SOL through Coinbase.
The most used cryptocurrency for global withdrawals is bitcoin, with 63% of transactions using it, according to the Deel report. Ethereum comes in a distant second place, being present in 23% of the withdrawals made. USDC, Solana, and Dash are also used marginally.
Crypto as an Alternative
While other countries have different legal situations, in Argentina, receiving cryptocurrencies has become a lifeline for many freelancers, helping them keep their purchasing power in a more effective way. These freelancing platforms, along with crypto, are also said to open new markets for such workers, who can now be hired at a worldwide level with a simplified payments process.
Argentina is currently seeking to regulate and control digital wallets, as its central bank is proposing to strengthen the measures providers like Mercado Pago and Uala will have to take regarding KYC-AML.
What do you think about Argentinian freelancers and their use of cryptocurrency? Tell us in the comments section below.
Sergio Goschenko
Sergio is a cryptocurrency journalist based in Venezuela. He describes himself as late to the game, entering the cryptosphere when the price rise happened during December 2017. Having a computer engineering background, living in Venezuela, and being impacted by the cryptocurrency boom at a social level, he offers a different point of view about crypto success and how it helps the unbanked and underserved.
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