How Bitcoin Helps Cubans Escape Inflation

In Cuba, where decades of centralized economic control and U.S. sanctions have crippled the local economy, inflation isn't just a number—it’s a daily struggle. Prices of basic goods skyrocket, the national peso devalues almost overnight, and access to foreign currency is heavily restricted. For many Cubans, Bitcoin is no longer just a buzzword—it’s a lifeline.

Bitcoin offers Cubans a decentralized way to store value that isn’t tied to the fragile Cuban peso (CUP). With Bitcoin, people can:

It turns a smartphone into a personal bank, allowing peer-to-peer transactions with minimal fees and no middlemen.

Despite internet access being expensive and sometimes censored, Cubans are using mobile-friendly, low-bandwidth wallets like Phoenix or Wallet of Satoshi, and in some cases even offline Lightning payments using mesh networks or sneakernet solutions.

Some initiatives, like Cuba Bitcoin and Circular economies in Havana, are encouraging local adoption. Small merchants accept sats, freelancers are paid in BTC, and communities are slowly building parallel circular economies—outside the broken system.

Bitcoin gives Cubans something they rarely get: options. Whether it’s sending value across borders, getting paid for freelance work, or just saving outside of inflation, Bitcoin offers real-world utility.

As inflation in Cuba continues to erode trust in fiat, Bitcoin is quietly becoming a tool of financial resistance—and, for many, a symbol of hope.