Bitcoin in Haiti: State of play 🇭🇹

Haiti is the only independent French-speaking country in the Caribbean, but it is also one of the poorest countries in the region and in the world more generally. It is also one of the countries that is most vulnerable to natural hazards such as hurricanes, floods and even earthquake, like the one that hit the island in 2021.

The " Haitian gourde » (HTG) is the official currency of Haiti which was detached from the US dollar in 1989 and is now a floating currency. The US dollar (USD) circulates in the country and some prices are displayed in USD.

In this rather difficult context, many Haitians are looking to obtain bitcoin in Haiti and more generally to use cryptocurrencies as economic leverage. Many entrepreneurs are also looking to start crypto businesses and push the adoption and usage of cryptocurrencies in the country.

It is estimated that 68% of the Haitian population is unbanked and according to some researchers such as Iwa Salami, co-director of the FinTech Center at the University of East London, cryptocurrency could promote access to the digital financial system.

What are the regulations in force in Haiti regarding cryptocurrencies?

In 2019, the central bank of Haiti announced during the " Haiti Tech Summit " – which takes place every year in December – that the country would launch its own digital currency (MNBC). The country had indicated in the speech a tolerance for cryptocurrencies, in particular as a vector of employment for the country.

Haiti does not yet have specific regulations or legislation on cryptocurrencies. The country is classified as neutral and new laws are currently being developed. The adoption and use of cryptocurrencies nevertheless remains increasingly important, as evidenced by the numerous blockchain-based initiatives emerging in the country.

The development of blockchain-related projects

One of the most successful projects is certainly "AgriLedger" which makes it possible to trace the food supply chain from agriculture.

The project " Blockchain Cotton Project (BCP) " allows for the support of cotton producers who deliver cotton to American textile manufacturers. The BCP thus verifies the cotton chain and provides traceability of the cotton in order to determine whether it is organic or fair trade.

The foundation " Dash Investment Foundation » has entered into a partnership with the « Danielle Saint-Lot Women’s Foundation", an organization of women entrepreneurs. Some projects like Smart Family – which provides smartphones for the organization of their businesses – could notably use cryptocurrencies. The objective of Dash is to allow small merchants to accept payments in cryptocurrencies.

In the same vein, the NGO " Hope for Haiti » now accepts donations in cryptocurrencies on its site, which promotes financial aid from abroad. According to Edmond Bocchit, Haiti's ambassador, the ultimate objective is to use the same system to promote the development of future technologies by financing the country's startups.

How to buy bitcoin in Haiti with Pursa?

Pursa Exchange is a secure platform that allows you to buy, sell and convert instantly in more than 230 countries including Haiti. Pursa is one of the most used platforms in Haiti for buying and selling bitcoins with HGT.

The platform offers different payment methods such as bank transfers in euros or dollars or by payment by Mastercard and VISA bank card.

How to buy bitcoin in Haiti with Noones?

It is possible to buy bitcoin in Haiti on the Noones platform. The paxful platform is a reference in the purchase of bitcoin in peer to peer, and particularly in Africa. However, many Haitians use Noones to buy and sell bitcoin, with the local currency, the gourde (HTG).

The advantage with Noones, it is certainly the many payment methods available. You can get bitcoin through bank transfer, Wise, Paypaul, PerfectMoney and many other methods.

Where to meet bitcoin supporters in Haiti?

We have observed that there are groups organized on Meetup for example that have not been active for some time. However, there is a group called the "Haiti Blockchain Alliance" through which entrepreneurs and individuals in the sector can meet.

There is also a group on Facebook " Dash Haiti » for people interested in the DASH cryptocurrency.

Is bitcoin legal in Haiti?

The country has not made a clear statement on legislation on bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. However, to a certain extent, we can say that Haiti is a country crypto-friendly which authorizes the use of cryptocurrencies.

How to buy bitcoin in Haiti?

There are several methods to buy bitcoin in Haiti with Haitian gourdes or dollars. There is the Pursa platform which allows you to buy BTC by bank transfer or by payment by bank card. The platform Noons peer-to-peer also allows you to buy and sell BTC against other people living in Haiti. It is possible to buy bitcoin in Haiti, with gourdes (HTG) directly.

Haitians can also use crypto exchange platforms as binance to be able to access other services.

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Note: This is not investment advice. Always do your own research before investing.