Colombians Trade Pesos for Stablecoins: MoneyGram’s New App is Here to Save the Day 💸🚀

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Well, butter my biscuit and call me impressed! MoneyGram’s digital payments app is finally sashaying into Colombia, giving locals a chance to save in US dollar stablecoins because, let’s face it, the Colombian peso is about as stable as a unicyclist on a tightrope. 🪜💸

Powered by the Stellar network (fancy!) and using Crossmint for self-custody (even fancier!), this app lets users store USDC and send it overseas faster than you can say “Where’s my empanada?” 🥟✨

In a statement that probably involved a lot of handshakes and PowerPoint slides, MoneyGram declared Colombia the “ideal launch market” because Colombian families receive more money from abroad than they send out. It’s like the financial version of a potluck where everyone brings extra guacamole. 🥑🎉

“For millions of people around the world, sending money across borders is a lifeline: supporting loved ones back home, covering essentials like food, housing, and education, and enabling investments in businesses and long-term financial stability. ” 🌍💖

Say hello to a new way to receive money 💸📲

Introducing the next-generation MoneyGram® app:
🔔 Instantly receive international transfers with real-time notifications
💲 Choose to convert funds into digital dollars for stability, or withdraw cash at a MoneyGram location
🔒…

– MoneyGram (@MoneyGram) September 17, 2025

No more schlepping to physical MoneyGram stores to pick up cash like it’s 1995. Now, Colombians can store their funds as USDC in the app, which is about as modern as a fidget spinner in a tech conference. 🌀

And why wouldn’t they? The Colombian peso has been taking a nosedive against the dollar, dropping nearly 12% since early April. Google Finance says so, and we all know Google never lies. 🤖📉

Users will only need to visit MoneyGram locations if they want to swap USDC for pesos and go on a shopping spree. Because let’s face it, digital dollars are great, but you can’t exactly buy arepas with them. 🥙

Oh, and get this: MoneyGram might even let users earn incentives on deposits in the future. Because who doesn’t love a little extra cash for doing basically nothing? 🤑

The app is launching on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, but Colombians have to join a waitlist first. Because nothing says “exclusive” like making people wait in line for a finance app. 🎟️

With 500,000 retail locations worldwide and 5 billion “digital endpoints,” MoneyGram is basically the Beyoncé of digital payment networks. 🎤💃

USDT Still Reigns Supreme in Colombia, Says Local Crypto Guru

According to José Luis Garcia, a member of a Colombian Bitcoin Telegram group (yes, that’s a thing), Tether (USDT) is still the king of local crypto activity, especially on Binance’s peer-to-peer platform. Crown not included. 👑

Garcia also shouted out El Dorado P2P, another popular app in Colombia that lets users transfer USDT on Tron. Because who needs traditional banking when you have Tron? 🚀

The USDT supply on the Tron network hit $80 billion in June, thanks to its fast, low-cost transfers. Perfect for sending digital dollars in developing countries, or as I like to call it, “financial democracy.” 🌐✨

Bitcoin Merchants in Colombia: Where Did They Go?

In sadder news, the number of merchants accepting Bitcoin in Colombia has dropped to 62, down from 106 in September 2023. It’s like a crypto ghost town out there. 👻

One of the most notable departures was MIND Crypto Caffe Medellín, once the crown jewel of El Poblado. Photos from May 2024 show the space being dismantled, which is just as heartbreaking as finding out your favorite coffee shop only serves decaf. ☕😢

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2025-09-18 05:38