Bitcoin Forum

Dear community,

Would anyone have informations, press releases or official statements from Cuba (Government or newspaper or experts) on the status of legality of our beloved ecosystem on the island?

Feel free to post links even if in spanish.
Any links to Cuban crypto communities also.

Any types of informations regarding Cuban communities and/or legal status (regulated, unregulated or banned)

Thank you

That was the only crypto news I remember reading about Cuba
"December 6, 2018, will be a major milestone for the history of Cuba. It will be the first time that residents are able to access the internet on their mobile devices. This could potentially let Cubans embrace crypto. With the news still breaking, no exchange has made a push to access the region. However, it is presumed that there will not be any firewall restrictions.
....
However, there is still huge potential for growth of the crypto sector as it could potentially enter Cuba if citizens decide to invest in crypto. This might be the case since Cuba has one of the biggest restrictions on people’s lives. It is conceivable that citizens might opt to use crypto to gain economic freedom."

You can read it at full here (https://bitcoinexchangeguide.com/the-internet-finally-makes-its-way-to-cuba-but-how-will-cubans-embrace-bitcoin-and-blockchain/)

Now we now that they can have cryptocurrencies lol. It would be nice if after the next step people in Cuba would get access to money. Why should anyone bother about this country? There is no projects there and even most people in Cuba are not wealthy enough to own any amount of money that can make an influence on crypto market.

You are actually underestimating Cuba.. look at Venezuela, for example.. they were in the same situation as Cuba (or even worse) a few years ago and nowadays they have a really huge community inside the cryptos world.
You can't forget that it is not only wealthy people that can influence the cryptos market

If by the end of 2018 in Cuba only started to enter the Internet, the Cubans still have a long way to master it, before they switch to the use of cryptocurrency. For more than sixty years, this country has been in isolation and in self-isolation. Now the people of Cuba are starting to get acquainted with the outside world in a new way, because the construction of socialism has actually thrown them away in development more than half a century ago.

As I see, cuban government doesn't have any stance towards bitcoin yet. They let people there on the ignorance, with no contact with external world, so there is no need to even talk about bitcoin, as most people probably don't know what it is.
The internet access there is scarce and expensive, but slowly the internet adoption is increasing (how absurd it is!), so it will take a long time until they start talking about bitcoin. Once it happens, then the dictatorship may start talking about crypto currency as well.

As for me, even if they would have internet access or contact outside their country, it will still take time for them to access cryptocurrency. They will be needing time to study about its purpose and the function of it. It will still take a long process of learning. I wonder if they would have an interest in crypto market if their technology hasn't been well developed.

That's highly untrue. I've been going to Cuba for the last 6 years and they've had internet access since 2016. It is scarce and you need to go to wifi access point in order to do so.
But many people in IT and engineers know about cryptocurrencies in Cuba.
If the government have no stance on it, then it is not "illegal". Knowing the right people a project could be set up there.
I'm looking into something that could be major for the Cuban people and would partially free them from their "double currency" system.
Anyone would have official statements or so please post.

+1

With help from other Cuban expats in western countries and a system which I'm brainstorming about, crypto not being "illegal" officially, most likely only ignored.
There is HUGE potential there.
And on a note, I am in contact with a couple young adults that just graduated from Havana university in different major, most of them not being technology, A LOT knows about Bitcoin and Ethereum mostly, other cryptos rest ignored.

There is always a room for countries to adapt crypto, if Cuba doesn't have issues with BTC or to cryptocurrencies, a little encouragement to citizens who learned crypto and start using. All it needs is a company that shall start a BTC payment system just like what happen in our country and people will then try to use the company's project to pay bills.

Don't get me wrong, Cuba is a lovely place and is basically one good visit in the Carribean, but the island is literally lacking on infrastructure focusing on the internet and other telecoms for the outside world. I don't think there are any legal stance on Cuba regarding bitcoin and crypto just yet, and perhaps they are focusing on things other than a new asset/currency (internal politics, societal development etc.) Always slow news on the said country, and for months I haven't seen any article regarding this lovely island apart from travel guides and whatnot.

Well, Venezuela's economy is suffering today due to hyper inflation and not even crypto can save them. The link had been published last 2018 and upon looking for further news on how is Cuba doing with regards to cryptocurrency adaptation I cannot find any sources or articles regarding it. I never knew that Cuba lacked businesses or infrastructures that focuses on internet, they had been late when it comes to technology and cryptocurrency. I hope that crypto will soon reach the mass so that everyone can take advantage of it's convenience and opportunities.

Venezuela is even worse. Their crypto community mostly consist of bounty and airdrop hunters.  People in a country with an average income about $10 per month can't make a decent community. The only global thing that Venezuela brings to crypto is different kinds of FUD and reputation loses. Don't be surprised that people associate cryptocurrencies with illegal activities.

Cuba is a very interesting country and right now people have already access to the internet (started last December 2018) which can be opening doors for cryptocurrency market to slowly evolve. Right now, I think there is no official stance from the government whether they have the inclination to make cryptocurrency legal or banned (just like China). Will this mean that people will soon demand from the government to allow them to join the cryptocurrency movement? Most likely the government will not allow such a thing.

Here is an interesting read on the same topic: https://bitcoinnews.com/internet-comes-to-cuba-will-cubans-comes-to-crypto/

Cuba is a country ruled by leaders who do not believe so much on an open market and the government controlled almost all aspects of the people's lives. I think this is a situation that cryptocurrency will not grow and flourish though the potential is really there.

I don't know if they can help out but you can still try to contact the team at Dash and explain your plan. They have been instrumental in helping out Venezuelans, perhaps they can also do the same in Cuba.

Be careful of *el paredón*. :D
Cuban government doesn't like foreigners intruding on their island and putting imperialist ideas on the minds of their slaves citizens.

I'm trying to get in contact with @HAVBlockchain (founders of the Havana Blockchain Center) https://www.bitcobie.com/entrevista-havana-blockchain-center/ and @BitcoinCuba on twitter right now see if they can provide more informations.

The article stating that they started having access to internet in December 2018 is false. They are able to have "in-house" internet as of 2017 if they can afford it "very expensive" and they were able to access internet wifi points since 2016 using Etecsa internet cards which sells for 1.5 CUC for 1h.

Most likely the government will not indeed. But as of now, from what I'm reading it is unregulated as they are ignoring it because it is too tiny.

I agree on your point about the government, I have many friends living there and have witnessed some of the most absurd situation.
I believe the first step toward any kind of cryptocurrency movement in Cuba would be education about the technology which would, in my opinion, be highly doable.

Don't worry I know about the stance of the Cuban government towards "huma" in general but I'm thinking of a non for-profit organization with an educational mission. Having both Cuban and expats friends there I think it would be 1. doable 2. non-threatening to authority, for them to leave us alone.

Waiting on response from @HAVBlockchain and @BitcoinCuba (Twitter) for more accurate on-site information

Hopefully you are from Cuba and glad to see that you have an internet connect, since this thread came up i just googled and found that the residents are able to use internet in their mobile phone from December 6, 2018  :o. I never thought there are people who are restricted like this around the world apart from North Korea and some Arab countries. All i know about Cuba is that they have world class wrestler and boxers but did not knew that they are living in a dictatorship kind of environment without any freedom, with the internet being available now to residents am i sure the government will view it as a luxury item and i have no idea how they view the virtual market or whether they have a firewall like China.

Source:
The Internet Finally Makes Its Way to Cuba, but How Will Cubans Embrace Bitcoin and Blockchain? (https://bitcoinexchangeguide.com/the-internet-finally-makes-its-way-to-cuba-but-how-will-cubans-embrace-bitcoin-and-blockchain/)

Note: Carollzinha and CryptoBry has linked the news before me, either way i am not editing it as it is my source of knowing about Cuba as well.

I am not from Cuba but I have been living there on and off about 2 years in the last 6 years.
The articles you are reading from the 2018 isn't true. Internet hotspots been there since I thought 2016 but 2015. Home WIFI which is very expensive to Cuban people has been allowed since late 2017 early 2018 to my recollection.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/cuba-starts-offering-home-internet-service-but-few-are-buying

I was gonna say 2016 but it's actually 2015. "The island started opening up to cyberspace in the summer of 2015, when the Cuban government opened 240 public Wi-Fi spots in parks and on street corners."

But yeah the government until a couple years ago, prefered to keep the people in ignorance of what was going on around the world restricting internet access to many many people for knowledge control, which is deeply sad. I have many friends, Cuban and expats, over there. The people situation is getting better year by year, private enterprises are allowed (restaurants, cafe, various businesses) as well as the stygmate of homosexuality is pretty much done since Raul Castro daughter is openly lesbian, it opened to them. People have deeds of their lands now compared to 10 years ago, etc.
Real problem is the US embargo which creates financial instability since day 1. Also what is going on in Venezuela isn't helping at all as Cuba was relying on that oil for a long time.

Having access to bitcoin isn't the issue right now. It's banking that is the issue. China stopped banking for bitcoin exchanges and same with USA to some extent. That's where the problem is.

Hence why OTC is still legit and will always be the better option, never link CC or banks to your crypto holdings.
BTC as always been a p2p solution. One should never link the system they are trying to avoid with the solution system we embrace.

"It is estimated that about half of all the 11.2 million Cubans own a mobile phone. However, the number that can afford to access the internet is quite low. ETECSA, the state-run telecoms company announced two packages for those who wish to access the internet. The cheapest package costs $600 and will last for 30 days at 7 Cuban Peso or about USD 0.26. In Cuba, the state wage is USD30 a month."

Again these metrics are incorrect as of now, last time I was there, May to June 2018 for a month, WIFI at home price was at 150 CUC (1 CUC (convertible peso) = 1 USD)) which is still very expension.
Also, for mobile usage, there a few options, ETECSA provides 1h internet access card for 1.5 CUC or 5h for 5 CUC or 10h 8 CUC. But users still need to go to hotspots, most in Havana or at different places around the country most in parcs or town public places.
Also yes, average state wage is 30 CUC a month, but back there for someone to live correctly you need about 200 CUC /month so everyone has a different hustle.
Exemple: The teenagers/young adults is the wifi parcs sells the internet cards for x2 the price so you don't have to go to ETECSA and do the line. I met a orthopedist specialized doctor who was doing bicycle taxi at night. People repair phones/electronics. Some sells burned CD's or direct USB  to computer or phone, pirated music/series/movies. The people driving taxi's are pretty upper middle class. Anyone working for tips in the tourist industry are pretty comfortable. For example, which is ridiculous, after high school, to enter university, it requires better grades to be hotel manager than to enter medical school. Etc.

ARTICLE CAME OUT TODAY!
https://bitcoinnews.com/cubas-new-wi-fi-regulations-could-open-doors-for-bitcoin/

https://beincrypto.com/cuba-private-wifi-access-bitcoin/
https://beincrypto.com/will-cubans-turn-to-bitcoin-amid-tanking-economy-and-food-shortages/

Communist prefers a closed society strictly governed by government. Privacy and economic independence are against their law.
Crypto is a tool for privacy and personal ownership. So, every communist and oppressive government would block them as much as possible unless they are trying to evade an embargo from US which also controls money around the world. Russia and Venezuela are the examples.

Maybe you can check this one article, https://beincrypto.com/cuba-private-wifi-access-bitcoin/


So it looks like this is a welcoming news for Cubans. Country is still very strict as far as media or any sort of news coming from the outside, but it seems they are leaning towards a positive direction now. And allowing or legalizing private WI-FI will at least bolsters blockchain and crypto to average Cubans and we might see the effect in the next couple of years, we don't know, they might be one of the recipient of blockchain technology when they decided to overhaul their legacy systems.

Hello!

If you want to know about what's been happening regarding blockchain technologies (including cryptocurrencies) , please take a look at the work of The CubanTech Group and their meetups . We've been offering meetups since December 2016 about all kinds of technologies , including blockchain . I will not advertise too much since I am a member . Hence feel free to consider my opinion as a bit biased .

Besides among us there are committers and core devs of some crypto projects (including Skycoin since Nov 2017) and community managers. For further details see :

https://twitter.com/TheCubanTech
https://facebook.com/TheCubanTech
https://github.com/simelo
https://github.com/skycoin
https://twitter.com/SimeloTech
http://meetup.cuban.tech
http://blockstack.cuban.tech

My (not up-to-date) Linkedin profile : https://www.linkedin.com/in/olemis

This is not related to government . We are mostly freelancer with work permits and license (a.k.a trabajador por cuenta propia) .

If you plan to travel to Cuba , contact us in advance . Let's meet up !

Hello Olemis! I think we are already discussing on the facebook page.
Will definitely do. I am looking into creating a non for-profit organization in Canada to promote blockchain knowledge in Cuba.
Still in research phase. I've been maybe 2 years time total in the last 6 years in Cuba for long term vacations, have many friends there, got to say I love your country. Been in crypto since February 2017.
Keep in touch. Going to sleep now, 2am in Bangkok  ;D

Well, per my knowledge so far about countries/states and their regulatory stands on crypto, I haven't found anything yet about clearly set regulations on crypto and blockchain use in Cuba. So you may still have to follow the normal format we all use- stay as much careful as you can so as to protect yourself.

I think Cuba is still far from the world of technology.  they are still have trouble for accessing the internet.
Cuba has economic problems, especially by excessive government control of the country's industry and prolonged sanctions imposed by the OAS, which is continued by the United States.  This country has two economic models, with two different sets of currencies.

Cuba , as a country at macro scale , yes . Cubans as individuals , no . Gray areas ...

• Cuba can't connect to oceanic fiber cables due to US embargo
• Cuba can't access mainstream financial mechanisms
• State-run technology sector is decades behind worldwide state of the art
• regulators are not familiar with new tech
• ... more ...

Some recent facts :

• 3G launched recently
• Tests for 4G are ongoing
• There is a new policy (https://www.facebook.com/TheCubanTech/posts/1283528105135091) regulating mesh networks , formerly illegal
• Infrastructure deployed (mainly) by Huawei
• The President is graduated from Electronics Engineering at UCLV , best university in the country for telecomm / informatics (IMO)
• Cuba is located in one of the regions with highest density of oceanic fiber cables
• Russia and China (intl partners of Cuba) are developing their own independent intl. financial services, some powered by blockchain
• there are numbers of young people, completely organized communities, who are catching up very quicky
• ... more ...

I tend to think the Cuban government would be hostile to bitcoin, given that it's a centrally-planned society at odds with the ideals of bitcoin. And even if the government were not opposed to bitcoin, the population is too poor to buy the cryptocurrency in significant amounts - only a tiny minority would be able to accumulate it.

Bitcoin has an essential role to play within the context of renewed relations between Cuba and the USA. This currency would not be punished like the dollar is today; the dictatorship makes holding dollars a burden, but the introduction of Bitcoin would allow us to potentially dodge this problem.
Full Story Here (https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitcoin-in-cuba-this-currency-would-not-be-punished-like-the-dollar)