Argentina's $93.9B Crypto Market: Taxes, Rules, and Peso Exchanges

Argentina's crypto market hit $93.9 billion in transaction volume between July 2024 and June 2025, the second highest in Latin America after Brazil. The country's regulatory framework and tax structure shape how residents buy, sell, and convert digital assets – and the rules matter for anyone tracking the USDT to Argentine peso exchange rate.

Individuals can freely buy, hold, transfer, and sell cryptocurrencies without needing to register. The National Securities Commission (CNV) regulates Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs), but someone buying AVAX or another token for personal use does not qualify as a VASP. Registration is mandatory only when an individual or company commercially provides crypto services to third parties.

Freelancers and service providers can agree with clients to receive payment in USDT, BTC, XRP, or another cryptocurrency. The contract and invoice must specify details such as the amount in the chosen crypto, calculated using the price at the time of payment. Stablecoins can reduce exposure to short-term volatility, making them more practical for recurring transactions. Payments received in cryptocurrency must be assessed case by case under BCRA regulations and the transaction's specific nature.

If the service qualifies as an export, it must be documented with a Factura E export invoice. Argentina's Revenue and Customs Control Agency (ARCA) allows this invoice to be issued in pesos or foreign currency and establishes the applicable conversion rules.

In September 2025, the Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA) removed the annual $36,000 limit for individuals exempt from settling foreign currency through the exchange market. Payments received in cryptocurrency must still be assessed individually – for example, when converting USDT to Argentine pesos – taking into account BCRA regulations and the transaction's nature.

Cryptocurrencies received as payment are treated as income from the corresponding activity. If the asset is later sold, a separate financial gain or loss arises for tax purposes, based on the acquisition cost and permitted expenses.

For an individual not carrying out a commercial activity, gains from selling a crypto asset are taxed separately from the original income. Argentine-source income faces a 5% rate when sold for pesos without an indexation clause, and a 15% rate when sold in foreign currency or pesos with indexation. Foreign-source crypto income is taxed at 15%. The tax applies to the gain, not the total sale amount, after accounting for acquisition cost, expenses, and the legal special deduction.

Interest and yields from placing crypto on an exchange or DeFi platform must be declared when received or reinvested. Losses from sales can offset gains from similar transactions in the current year and be carried forward up to five years.

Reporting requirements also apply. Under ARCA's RG 4614, virtual wallets face thresholds of ARS 50 million for individuals and ARS 30 million for legal entities from April 2026, based on monthly transaction flows and closing balances.

Selling personally owned crypto assets is not subject to Value Added Tax (VAT). Intermediary services charging a commission may be.

Keeping complete documentation – contracts, invoices, transaction hashes, bank statements – is critical. If someone receives 1,000 USDT worth ARS 1,500,000 for a service, that constitutes income. Selling those USDT later for ARS 1,580,000 produces a financial gain of ARS 80,000 before deductions.